Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 8 October the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee will make final decisions in respect of its community governance reviews of the boundary between Great Coxwell and Great Faringdon parishes and the boundary between Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell parishes.

If the committee agrees to amend the boundaries, in accordance with its draft proposals, it will also recommend Council authorises the head of legal and democratic to request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to make related alteration orders to make district wards and county divisions coterminous with the change to ensure effective and convenient representation of local residents.

A copy of the reports which the committee will consider are attached. Any recommendations will be circulated to all councillors prior to the Council meeting.

At its meeting on 8 October 2018 the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee made final decisions in respect of its community governance reviews of the boundary between Great Coxwel and Great Faringdon parishes, and the boundary between Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell parishes.   

These changes impact on district ward and county division boundaries.  To make district ward and county divisions coterminous with these parish changes Council was invited to authorise the head of legal and democratic to request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to make related alteration orders to alter the district wards and county division boundaries where necessary.

RESOLVED: to

1.    authorise the head of legal and democratic to request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to make related alteration orders to change district wards and county divisions to reflect the changes made to the parish boundary of Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell;

2.    authorise the head of legal and democratic to request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to make a related alteration order to change district wards to reflect the change made to the parish boundary of Great Coxwell and Great Faringdon.

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic which invites the committee to make a final decision on the review of the boundary between Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell parishes – attached.

The committee considered the report of the head of legal and democratic which invited it to make a final decision in respect of the community governance review of the boundary between Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell parishes.

The committee noted the consultation responses from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council and Radley Parish Council and that neither St Helen Without or Sunningwell parish councils had responded to the latest consultation on the committee’s draft proposals.

The committee was advised that, subject to receiving consent from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), the changes at parish level would be implemented at the May 2019 elections. The timetable for the implementation of any changes at district ward and county council division level is a matter for the LGBCE.

RESOLVED: to

1.    amend the boundary between Abingdon-on-Thames, Radley, St Helen Without and Sunningwell parishes as shown on the map attached to the report of the head of legal and democratic submitted to the meeting of the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee on 8 October 2018;

2.    include the area up to Oxford Road in the Abingdon Dunmore ward of Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council and the area to the east of the Oxford Road in the Abingdon Peachcroft ward;

3.    authorise the head of legal and democratic to make a reorganisation of community governance order to implement the changes agreed by the committee, subject to receiving the necessary consents from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

RECOMMEND COUNCIL: to

4.    authorise the head of legal and democratic to request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to make related alteration orders to change district wards and county divisions to reflect the changes made to the parish boundary of Abingdon-on-Thames.