Agenda item

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic services in respect of a number of community governance reviews – attached.

The committee discussed a series of community governance review proposals and made final decisions on them.

 

CGR B (21) – Kennington, Radley, Sunningwell, South Hinksey and Cumnor

 

The committee discussed proposals to either amend the boundary of Radley parish to include Chandlings Manor School currently in Kennington parish (subject to LGBCE consent), or to amend the boundary of Sunningwell parish to include land to the west of Oxford Road currently in Kennington and Radley parishes (subject to LGBCE consent).  The committee also considered proposals from Sunningwell Parish Council and South Hinksey Parish Council as set out in the schedule of the report.

 

James Greenman from Sunningwell Parish Council clarified the parish council’s support for the recommendation.

 

Councillor Lovatt questioned the merit of deferring community governance reviews until after the next scheduled elections in May 2019, on the grounds that any review outcomes would not be electorally implemented until 2023, but would impact parish governance before then.

 

The officer explained that carrying out community governance reviews earlier than this risks implementing changes and then undoing these, which is not clear for residents.

 

The committee noted Councillor Blagrove’s enquiry as to whether there will be a mechanism in place to facilitate communication between parish councils on this matter. The officer detailed plans to write to all the parishes urging communication before 2019, and pointed out that reviews would be more structured in 2019, thus removing sources of tension between parishes.

 

The committee debated the item and agreed to make no change to the boundaries between Kennington, Radley and Sunningwell, and South Hinksey and Cumnor.

 

RESOLVED: To make no change to the boundary between Kennington, Radley and Sunningwell and South Hinksey and Cumnor.

 

CGR A (13) – Grove and East Challow

 

The committee discussed a proposal to amend the boundary of Grove parish to include Grove Technology Park, currently in East Challow parish (subject to LGBCE consent).

 

Councillor Terry Fraser, of Grove Parish Council, spoke in favour of the boundary amendment and against the officers’ recommendation, citing common perception that the Technology Park is in Grove due to its name and common access routes to the park being via Grove.

 

The committee debated the item and agreed, for the reasons set out in the report, to make no change to the current boundary between Grove and East Challow.

 

RESOLVED: Not to include Grove Technology Park within Grove parish.

 

CGR C (24) – Wantage and Grove

 

The committee discussed a proposal to amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include all land at Stockham Farm currently in Grove Parish.

 

Councillor Charlotte Dickson did not vote on this item as a member of Wantage Town Council as she stated that she would not vote on any issue which could impact on the boundary of the town.

 

Councillor Terry Fraser, of Grove Parish Council, spoke in opposition citing possible loss of council tax revenue for Grove among other considerations.

 

The officer explained the rationale for the proposed transfer of land as being in accordance with public opinion and in the interests of community cohesion. Any potential council tax losses for Grove would not impact the financial viability of the parish council, and thus could not be considered a valid objection.

 

The committee debated the item and agreed, for the reasons set out in the report, to amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include all land at Stockham Park, currently in Grove parish, and to include this area in the current Segsbury ward of Wantage Town Council.

 

RESOLVED: To amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include all land at Stockham Park, currently in Grove parish; and to include this area in the current Segsbury ward of Wantage Town Council.

 

CGR D (24) – Wantage, Grove and Lockinge

 

The committee discussed proposals to amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include land at Crab Hill, currently in both Grove and Lockinge parishes.

 

Councillor Charlotte Dickson did not vote on this item as a member of Wantage Town Council as she stated that she would not vote on any issue which could impact on the boundary of the town.

 

The committee agreed, for the reasons set out in the report, to amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include land at Crab Hill, currently in both Grove and Lockinge parishes and that Grove should continue to return 16 parish councillors: 11 for Grove North and 5 for Grove Brook.

 

RESOLVED:

1.    To amend the boundary of Wantage parish to include land at Crab Hill, currently in both Grove and Lockinge parishes, and;

2.    To include these areas of land in the Wantage Charlton ward of Wantage Town Council, and;

3.    To remove the Crab Hill ward of Grove Parish Council, and;

4.    That Grove Parish Council should return 16 councillors, as at present, representing Grove Brook (five councillors) and Grove North (11 councillors).

 

CGR E - Longworth

 

The committee discussed, for the reasons set out in the report, a proposal to remove the current warding arrangements for Longworth Parish Council, currently comprising east and west wards.

 

The committee agreed, for the reasons set out in the report, to remove the current warding arrangements for Longworth Parish Council.

 

RESOLVED: To remove the current warding arrangements for Longworth Parish Council.

 

CGR F – East Hanney

 

The committee discussed a proposal to increase the number of councillors at East Hanney Parish Council from six to eight.

 

The committee agreed to the proposal for the reasons set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED: To increase the number of councillors at East Hanney Parish Council from six to eight.

 

CGR G – South Hinksey

 

The committee discussed proposals to increase the size of South Hinksey Parish Council from five to six parish councillors and to ward the parish along the A34, with the wards of Village and Hinksey Hill each electing three councillors.

 

The committee agreed to the proposals for the reasons set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED: To increase the size of South Hinksey Parish Council from five to six parish councillors and to ward the parish along the A34, with the wards of Village and Hinksey Hill each electing three councillors.