Issue - meetings

Councillor Alison Jenner declared an interest in this item as she was a Cumnor parish councillor, and as such did not take part in the decision-making on this item. 

The committee considered the community governance review CGR-F, on a proposal to amend the parish boundary to include within Sunningwell parish the area of Boars Hill currently in Wootton and Cumnor parishes. 

Mike Woodward, a Sunningwell resident, made a statement objecting to the proposed parish boundary change. 

Kate O’Donovan, Chairman of the Boars Hill Association, made a statement in support of the proposed parish boundary change and to also transfer those Boars Hill properties currently in Cumnor parish to Sunningwell parish. 

Colin Weyer, Chairman of Sunningwell Parish Council, made a statement in support of the proposed parish boundary change. 

Mr Greenman, a Sunningwell parish councillor, made a statement in support of the proposed parish boundary change. 

Ian Bristow, Chairman of Wootton Parish Council, made a statement objecting to the proposed parish boundary change. 

Laurence Brockliss, a Wootton parish councillor, made a statement objecting to the proposed parish boundary change. 

Councillor Emily Smith, a local ward member, made a statement in support of no change to the parish boundaries. 

Councillor Val Shaw, a local ward councillor, made a statement in support of no change to the parish boundaries. 

Following consideration of the consultation responses, officers had recommended making no change to the current boundary between Cumnor and Sunningwell parishes.  However, officers recommended transferring the properties within the Boars Hill area of Wootton parish to Sunningwell parish.  The officers’ justification for this final recommendation was set out in the schedule appended to the agenda. 

The committee considered, on balance, that there was no overwhelming reason to change the boundaries and move properties on Boars Hill (within Cumnor and Wootton parishes) into Sunningwell parish.  This council’s consultation results did not show strong support for boundary changes with an almost equal number expressing a view in support of and opposing a change.  The community of Boars Hill already benefitted from a well-established sense of community identity and community cohesion across the various parishes.  The unification of Boars Hill under one existing parish would not further this sense of community.  The view was expressed that the creation of a new parish for Boars Hill might be worth considering in the future. 

RESOLVED: to make no change to the current boundaries between Cumnor, Sunningwell and Wootton parishes.