Agenda item

Terry Stanley, Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services introduced the report informing the Committee that within the report were five Terms of Reference for Community Governance Reviews (CGRs).

He explained that two of the five Terms of Reference are for petitioned Community Governance Reviews as discussed at the Scrutiny meeting on 17th November 2021. It is with the Committees permission that these be presented first; Worth Parish Council and Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council, followed by the three deferred Community Governance Reviews of the Town Councils.

The Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services gave a summary of Members feedback from the last Committee, which had been reflected in the updated report. He explained the Terms of Reference for Worth Parish and Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish and addressed the enquiries from Members relating to each, in turn, including providing an update on the outcome of the Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council meeting on 25th November.

A Member confirmed they were happy with the Terms of Reference for Worth Parish Council and for the process to commence, given that a majority consensus had been reached on the Terms of Reference.

The Chairman noted that there were no further questions relating to the first two Community Governance Reviews and concluded that Members agree to the proposed Community Governance reviews as outlined in the report for Worth Parish and Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common.

The Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services outlined a proposal to defer the Community Governance Reviews of Burgess Hill Town Council, East Grinstead Town Council and Haywards Heath Town Council for consideration at the meeting on 23rd March to allow the affected Parish Councils more time to consider both the Terms of Reference and Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) Final Recommendations for Mid Sussex District Council.

The Chairman confirmed it was important more time was given to the Parish Councils affected by this to assess the implications of the review.

Members discussed the option to defer the Town Council Community Governance Review’s. In response to a Member’s query, the Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services explained there would be a slight impact to the proposed timetable and consultation period, with a view to publishing the results no later than November 2022 to meet the deadline of the publication of the Electoral Register. 

The Cabinet Member for Community thanked officers for their hard work on the project and Members for working collaboratively on this project.

Tom Clark, The Head of Regulatory Services, announced for the benefit of the Committee Members, the amended recommendations, to reflect the changes in the report.

The Chairman took Members to the vote on the revised recommendations which were proposed by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Pulfer. This was approved unanimously. 

RESOLVED                                                                                                              

The Scrutiny Committee for Community, Customer Services and Service Delivery:

(i)         Agreed the draft terms of reference and guidance for respondents for the Community Governance Reviews for Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common and Worth Parish Councils;

(ii)        Deferred consideration of the draft terms of reference and guidance for the Community Governance Reviews at Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead to the March 2022 meeting of this Committee to give all affected Town and Parish Councils time to consider these draft terms of reference in the light of the final report of the Boundary Commission for electoral arrangements for Mid Sussex District Council published on 1st February 2022 to take effect from the May 2023 local elections;

(iii)       Authorised the Head of Regulatory Services to make amendments to the agreed Terms of Reference if additional matters arise during the progress of the Community Governance Reviews, and

(iv)       Noted that further reports will be brought to the Committee as the agreed reviews progress.