COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW Councillor N Blake Leader of the Council and Chairman of the General Purposes Committee

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1 Council APPENDIX D 03/12/2014 Agenda Item No. 9 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW Councillor N Blake Leader of the Council and Chairman of the General Purposes Committee 1 Purpose 1.1 Council is invited to consider the General Purposes Committee s recommendation concerning proposed changes to parishing arrangements as a result of a Community Governance Review. 2 Recommendation(s) 2.1 That the proposals for change as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the attached report, be approved. 2.2 That the Head of Legal and Estates Services be authorised to make a Reorganisation Order under the Local Governmant and Public Involvement in Health Act, 2007 to implement the outcome of the Review. 2.3 That the Electoral Services Manager be authorised to take any further action that might be necessary to complete the Review and implement the new arrangements. 2.4 That the proposed budget/precept for the new of Berryfields for the year 2015/16 be approved as set out in the schedule forming part of the attached report. 3 Executive Summary/Supporting Information 3.1 At its meeting on 18 November, 2014, the General Purposes Committee considered the attached report summarising the outcome of formal consultations undertaken in connection with a Community Governance Review. The remit for the Review was:- To consider the creation of a Council for Quarrendon which includes the development known as Berryfields. To consider any changes to the number of councillors on Councils ready for the elections in 2015 (with the exception of Aylesbury Town, Buckingham and Ivinghoe, as the Boundary Commission for England was proposing revised parish electoral arrangements for these areas as part of their review of District Wards). 3.2 Having taken into account all the information available, the Committee made the recommendations set out at section 2 above. 4 Options Considered/Reasons for Recommendations/Resource Implications 4.1 These are set out in the attached report. Contact Officer Chris Sheard Background Documents D1

2 Report to General Purposes Committee on 18 November 2014 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW 1 Purpose 1.1 To consider final recommendations for change to parishing arrangements. 2 Recommendations / for decision 2.1 That the proposals for change as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 be approved for consideration by Council. 2.2 That the Head of Legal and Estate Services be authorised to make a reorganisation order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to implement the outcome of the review. 2.3 That the Electoral Services Manager be authorised to take any further action that may be necessary to complete the review and implement the new arrangements. 3 Supporting information 3.1 Community Governance Reviews were introduced through the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and are the successor to Reviews that were carried out in the past. The final approval of any changes is now a matter for the Council rather than central government. However, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England still have the final say on consequential alterations that may be proposed to District wards or County divisions. 3.2 A review can be undertaken in respect of the whole or part of the District to consider one or more of the following:- Creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes. The naming of parishes and the style of new parishes. The electoral arrangements for parishes (the ordinary year of election, council size the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding). Grouping of parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes. 3.3 The commencement of this review was approved by the General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 20 March 2014, with the terms of reference being to consider the following matters:- To consider the creation of a Council for Quarrendon, which includes the development known as Berryfields. To consider any changes to the number of councillors on Councils ready for the elections in 2015 (with the exception of Aylesbury Town, Buckingham and Ivinghoe, as the Local Boundary Commission for England was proposing revised parish electoral arrangements for these areas as part of their review of district wards). 3.4 The draft recommendations for public consultation were approved for consultation at the Committee s meeting on 19 August The Committee is now asked to approve the final recommendations for submission to Council. D2

3 In this instance there are no matters which need to be referred to the Local Government Boundary Commission. 3.5 The following appendices are attached:- Appendix 1 creation of a new parish for Quarrendon, which includes the development known as Berryfields. Appendix 2 Changes to the number of councillors on Stewkley Council. In each instance the appendix details:- Representations received in response to the initial consultation Representations received on the draft recommendations. A final recommendation for consideration along with reasons. 4 Options considered 4.1 The timing of reviews is a matter for the Council and the advantage of completing it in 2014 means that any changes will be effective for the 2015 local elections. 5 Reasons for Recommendation 5.1 The Council is bound to have regard to the need for community governance within the areas under review to: Reflect the identities and interests of the community in that area; and Is effective and convenient. The reasons for each of the final recommendations is set out in the appendices. 6 Resource implications 6.1 There will not be any direct costs to the District Council in implementing the outcome of the review. Staff time will be taken up in preparing the reorganisation order and in helping to establish the new parish council for Berryfields. 6.2 The Electoral Services Manager will be the lead officer for the review. The timetable may need to be adjusted if officer input is needed on the review at the time of the General Election but this should not disrupt the overall programme. 7 Response to Key Aims 7.1 The review will contribute to the objective of enabling our communities to be vibrant, engaged and safe. and Town Councils play an important role in terms of community empowerment at the local level. Contact Officer Chris Sheard Background Documents CLG and AEA guidance on the conduct of reviews Responses to initial consultation Responses to consultation on draft recommendations D3

4 Appendix 1 The issue for consideration Community Governance Review Final recommendations Berryfields To consider the creation of a Council for Quarrendon, which includes the housing development known as Berryfields. Representations received in response to initial consultation There were none. Representations received in response to consultation on the draft recommendations 1. That a new Council for the Quarrendon (which includes the housing development known as Berryfields) be created as shown on the map submitted. 2. The new parish be named Berryfields but as part of the consultation process suggestions be invited from stakeholders about possible alternative names. 3. That, based on future occupancy levels, the new Council should comprise 12 Councillors. Name and address Councillor Andy Huxley District Councillor AVDC Quarrendon Ward Nick Lewis Chair, Berryfields Residents Association Summary of response Supportive of the setting up of the Council on Berryfields. Support the new parish being named Berryfields We have no additional comments at this time. Final recommendation 1. That a new Council for the Quarrendon, which includes the housing development known as Berryfields, be created. 2. That the new be named Berryfields. 3. That, based on future occupancy levels, the new Council should comprise 12 Councillors. D4

5 The attached map shows the boundaries of the new. The proposal is for a Council to be formed which will be within the area of the Quarrendon meeting which is currently inactive. The new includes the housing development known as Berryfields. It is linked via two roads to the A 41 Bicester Road, via a soon to be opened link road to the Buckingham Park area to its east, and via a road to the north in the direction of Quainton. Reasons for final recommendations Local residents support the creation of a separate parish for the new development (which is within the area of the Quarrendon Meeting which is currently inactive) and prefer it to be named Berryfields. Electoral Consequences A new Council is to be effective from 7 May 2015, being the next ordinary day of election. The current electorate for the area is 1,189, although it is projected that this will increase to 4,500 electors by Based on these future occupancy levels and in line with current guidelines, the proposed number of councillors will be 12. The area is currently contained within the Quarrendon District Ward, the Aylesbury North County Division and the Buckingham Parliamentary Constituency. From May 2015, the new will be contained within the Riverside District Ward as a consequence of the Local Government Boundary Commission s revised electoral arrangements for Aylesbury Vale. D5

6 Location :- Z/Engineers/Electoral Registration Maps/ Boundary Updates/A3 Landscape July 14 Quarrendon Weedon This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office (C) Crown Copyright Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Aylesbury Vale District Council Licence No Derived from the 1:2500 O.S. MasterMap. N.B. - Further detail has been added to this Ordnance Survey Map from sources held by AVDC. No guarentee can be given as to the accuracy of this information. Hardwick Quarrendon Ward Quarrendon Pitchcott Fleet Marston PAGE D6 Boundaries Ü Waddesdon Scale - 1 : 12,500

7 BERRYFIELDS PARISH COUNCIL Proposed Budget/Precept for 2015/2016 Administrative Expenses Clerk s salary 6,500 Subscriptions 500 Telephone 300 Postage 250 Publications 250 Audit 500 Insurance 1,500 Publicity / magazine 1,500 Website 1,000 Training 500 Stationary 700 Chairs allowance 500 Elections 1000 Expenses 500 Hall hire 1000 Office equipment (rental) 2000 Notice Board 500 Litter bins 500 Dog bins 500 Salt/grit 500 Flowers/plants 1,000 Community grants 2, ,500 Initiatives 8, TOTAL 31,500 Council Tax Band D equivalent (Council Tax base 1,072.77) D7

8 Appendix 2 The issue for consideration Community Governance Review Final recommendations es To consider the level of Council membership for all es in Aylesbury Vale to ensure representation remains appropriate for the relevant community. (Note: Aylesbury Town, Buckingham Town and Ivinghoe are excluded from this review as the Local Boundary Commission for England is proposing revised parish electoral arrangements for these areas as part of their review of district wards). Representations received in response to initial consultation Name and address Summary of response Final recommendation Stewkley Council Wish to increase the number of Councillors who can serve on Stewkley Council from 8 to 9. Increase the Councillor numbers by one to 9. Council would wish any change/increase to be effective as soon as possible, i.e. May 2015 or sooner. The electorate is 1,463 and under our guidelines (which are based on the recommendations of the National Association of Local Councils), the Council could have up to 9 Councillors. Representations received in response to consultation on the draft recommendations: There were none. Final recommendation To increase the number of Councillors who can serve on Stewkley Council from 8 to 9. (Note: it is proposed that the change to Councillor numbers will be effective from 8 May 2015, being the next ordinary day of election). D8