Issue - meetings

Councillors were reminded that at its meeting on 9 February 2022, the Council had approved a request from West Horsley Parish Council to conduct a community governance review (CGR) in accordance with provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) regarding a proposal to increase the maximum number of councillors to be elected to the West Horsley Parish Council from nine councillors to eleven councillors.

The Council considered a report setting out details of the representations received during the consultation period and the options open to the Council in making its formal response to the CGR.

Upon the motion of Councillor Tim Anderson, seconded by Councillor Christopher Barrass, the Council

RESOLVED: 

(1)    That, taking account of the statutory considerations, the Council agrees the outcome of the community governance review as follows: 

(a)    to increase the number of parish councillors to be elected to West Horsley Parish Council from nine to eleven with effect from the next scheduled parish council elections in May 2023; and

(b)    to make no other changes to:

           (i)       the parish of West Horsley or

                          (ii)       the electoral arrangements for West Horsley Parish Council.

(2)    That the Democratic Services and Elections Manager be authorised to make a community governance reorganisation order under Section 86of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to give effect to the decision approved in paragraph (1) above, together with all necessary incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions as may be required to give full effect to the order.

Reason:

To address the community governance request received in respect of this matter with a view to ensuring that community governance within the area under review is:

·       reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area; and

·       is effective and convenient.

Councillors noted that the Council had powers under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR), which was a review of the whole or part of the Borough to consider one or more of the following:

·        Creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes;

·        The naming of parishes and the style (i.e. whether to call it a town council or village council etc.) of new parishes;

·        The electoral arrangements for parishes (including the number of councillors to be elected to the council, and parish warding), and

·       Grouping parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes

The Council considered a detailed report on a formal request from West Horsley Parish Council to conduct a CGR, with a view to securing an increase in the maximum number of councillors to be elected to West Horsley Parish Council from nine councillors to eleven councillors.

The reasons cited by the parish council for making the request to increase the number of parish councillors, were as follows: 

·       To reduce the workload on individual councillors that had grown considerably over the past 24 months and was expected to continue.

·       To address the substantial increase in population as a result of windfall and major housing developments underway in the Village as a consequence of implementing GBC’s Local Plan.

·       To seek to improve diversity on the parish council.

The Council was asked to approve the proposed terms of reference in respect of the proposed CGR, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report submitted to the Council, together with the proposed timetable for the review.  

Upon the motion of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, seconded by the Councillor Christopher Barrass, the Council

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the Council agrees to exercise its power under Section 82 of Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (as amended), by conducting a Community Governance Review of the parish of West Horsley, in accordance with the requirements of 2007 Act, and associated government guidance as described in the report submitted to the Council.

(2)    That the terms of reference in respect of the community governance review including the proposed timetable, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved and published.

(3)    That the Democratic Services and Elections Manager be authorised to conduct the community governance review on the Council’s behalf and to take all necessary action to comply with the Council’s statutory obligations in that regard.

Reason:

To address the community governance request received in respect of this matter with a view to ensuring that community governance within the area under review is:

·       reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area; and

·       is effective and convenient.