Agenda item

To consider a request from Glatton Parish Council to undertake a Community Governance Review (CGR) to review the parish boundary between Glatton and Conington following the receipt of a valid community governance petition.

Pursuant to Minute No. 24/28, the Committee considered a request from Glatton Parish Council to undertake a Community Governance Review (CGR) to review the parish boundary between Glatton and Conington following the receipt of a valid community governance petition.

In introducing the report, the Elections and Democratic Services Manager reported that a valid community governance petition had been submitted by Glatton Parish Council on 12th November 2024. To be valid, 37.5% of an electorate with less than 500 electors would be required. The petition submitted to the Council represented 54.6% of the electorate. Members attention was then drawn to the original request considered by the Committee at its 25th September 2024 meeting, together with the Notice of Community Governance Review and Terms of Reference outlined in Appendix A. Members were advised that the Community Governance Review must be concluded within 12 months of publication of the Terms of Reference.

Councillor A R Jennings advised that he had made contact with Councillor T Alban as the Ward Member for the area, who had advised that he would be maintaining a neutral stance on the review and would accept the Committee’s decision on the matter.

Councillor P J Hodgson-Jones queried what impact the review would have upon the Government’s White Paper proposals on Local Government Reorganisation and in doing so, the Elections and Democratic Services Manager responded that final details were awaited from the Government but that Town and Parish Councils would be briefed in due course with further briefings being planned in the autumn. Efforts would be made to ensure communications remained open not only with Town and Parish Councils but with Members also.

A question was then raised by the Vice-Chair querying whether the Community Governance Review would have an impact upon Town and Parish Council elections. Members were advised that all Town and Parish Council elections were scheduled for May 2026 and therefore would not be impacted by the review.

On being put to the vote, the Committee

RESOLVED

(a)  to consider the request from Glatton Parish Council for a Community Governance Review to review the parish boundary between Glatton and Conington;

(b)  to approve the draft terms of reference of the review without amendments, as detailed in Appendix A; and

(c)  to authorise the Elections and Democratic Services Manager to agree a timetable in consultation with Glatton Parish Council and Conington Parish Council.