Issue - meetings

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance, Transformation and Governance, Councillor Virdi presented the report of the Chief Executive outlining the Barton in Fabis Community Governance Review (CGR).

In moving the recommendation, Councillor Virdi advised that Bartin in Fabis would be very different to Fairham, and without the separation the current Council would oversee two very different communities. Councillor Virdi outlined the key objectives of the CGR, the stages of the review process to be followed, with a draft timetable, including the establishment of a Task and Finish Group, as detailed in the report. Councillor Virdi advised that any costs incurred would be met from existing budgets.

Councillor R Walker seconded the recommendation and reserved the right to speak.

Councillor Calvert advised that the Labour Group accepted the validity of the petition and acknowledged the reasons put forward for the creation of a new parish at Fairham, as detailed in the report. However, he questioned the timing of the CGR and stated that it would be sensible to undertake it once the majority of houses at Fairham had been occupied, to allow those residents to have a say, with the timings considered by the Task and Finish Group.

In supporting the referendum, Councillor R Mallender agreed that it would be important to consider how this was taken forward, and the Leader advised that this would be a lengthy process and a compromise had to be struck to allow sufficient opinions to be sought.

Councillor Thomas suggested that the Terms of Reference should take into account the ability to change the timetable, and to allow the Task and Finish Group to consider the timelines. The Monitoring Officer clarified that as a valid petition had been received, the Council had a statutory timetable to comply with, and it would be within the remit of the Task and Finish Group to amend the current proposed timetable, as appropriate.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor R Walker passed on Barton in Fabis Parish Council’s support for this report and confirmed its willingness to help in anyway going forward.

Councillor Virdi confirmed that the remit of the Task and Finish Group would be to look at the consultation process and potential options going forward.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           the process involved for the delivery of a Community Governance Review and the proposed timetable be noted;

b)           the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review (Appendix Two of the report) be approved;

c)           a cross party Task and Finish Group  be established to consider the Council’s position in response to the consultation to be undertaken as part of the Review; and

d)           the Task and Finish Group Terms of Reference (Appendix Three of the Report) be approved.