Review of local government to cost £15,000

The Wilmslow Community Governance Review Sub-Committee have met to discuss the future of local government, as a result of the three separate petitions received in respect of community governance reviews for the Handforth, Wilmslow and Styal area.

The first was received by the Council on September 21st 2009 calling for a Handforth Community Council. This was shortly followed on October 14th 2009 by a petition recommending that a Wilmslow and Handforth Town Council be established. The third petition was received by the Council on 14th January 2010 calling for the formation of a Styal Parish Council.

The petitions were validated as having been signed by at least 10% of the electorate and on the recommendation of the Committee it has been agreed that the Community Governance Review will be extended to cover the whole of the unparished area of Wilmslow (i.e. the former Electoral Wards of Dean Row, Fulshaw, Handforth, Hough, Lacey Green, and Morley and Styal). 

Since February 2008 the power to take decisions about matters such as the creation of parishes and their electoral arrangements has been devolved from the Secretary of State and the Electoral Commission to principal Councils such as Cheshire East.

In conducting this Review, the Council must assess the petitions and the proposals that they contain in terms of the following criteria and the key considerations:

Community governance in the areas must be

  • Reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area
  • Effective and convenient

 

Key considerations

  • The impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion 
  • The size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish
  • Parishes should reflect distinctive and recognisable communities  of interest with their own sense of identity 
  • The degree to which the proposals offer a sense of place and identity for all residents 
  • The ability of the proposed authority to deliver quality services economically and efficiently providing users with a democratic voice 
  • The degree to which a parish council would be viable in terms of a unit of local government providing at least some local services that are convenient, easy to reach and accessible to local people 

 

The key element of the Review will be the consultation process. An initial list of consultees has been identified which includes: local political parties, associations of parish councils, Cheshire East Borough Councillors, petition organisers, the Primary Care Trust, NHS, local schools and various community groups and organisations.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the initial stage of the consultation would comprise of three public meetings at the end of April, the meetings are to be held at 7.00 pm at venues in Wilmslow, Handforth and Styal respectively. 

An explanatory leaflet will also be produced, inviting a written response and a postal ballot of all electors in the area of the Review.

Whilst the Review must take in to account the views of local people, it could make a recommendation which is different from that which the petitioners sought. For example it could conclude that the proposals were not in the interests of the wider local community or could impact negatively on community cohesion. 

Additional funding of £15,000 is to be requested to cover the cost of conducting the Community Governance Review.

The next meeting of the Sub-Committee will be held on Tuesday, 23rd March with the Review to be completed by 20th September 2010, i.e. within twelve months of receipt of the first petition from the residents of Handforth. 

Tags:
Handforth, Local Council, Parish Council, Styal, Town Council, Wilmslow Community Governance Review
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