Agenda item

Terry Stanley, Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services, introduced the report. Following evaluation of the first of two public consultations, he presented to the committee the findings of the first consultation. He highlighted that the public and stakeholder response was  supportive of the proposals within the public CGR petition which was for the Town Council to align as closely as possible the District Wards so that some of the smaller wards created recently by the LGBCE (Local Government Boundary Commission for England) could be reviewed, that the Northern Arc wards be incorporated into the BHTC (Burgess Hill Town Council) administrative area, and that a new Council size be determined.

A Member highlighted the difference between the Community Governance Review of East Grinstead Town Council to Burgess Hill Town Council and Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council. He stated that it was important that the new Northern Arc developments are incorporated into the BHTC administrative area as this is where they had always been envisaged to be. He added that over 94% of respondents, and the Burgess Hill Town Council supported the recommendations.

A Member believed that the case to move the Northern Arc to Burgess Hill is overwhelming. He expressed support for the public and Town Council aspirations and highlighted that 94% of respondents supported the recommendations.

A Member thought that putting together the Northern Arc and Cuckfield, Bolnore and Ansty was irrational and felt it was logical that it should be part of Burgess Hill.

The Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services drew attention to the map which showed that Northern Arc West and Northern Arc East being put into Burgess Hill Dunstall and Burgess Hill Leylands, respectively.

A Member felt that the letter may have been slightly confusing for residents and asked if the wording could be made more understandable.

The Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services acknowledged that community governance matters are by their statutory nature technical, but he confirmed that he would take away the Member’s feedback and would endeavour to make future such notifications more understandable.

The Chairman recognised that most respondents supported the recommendations. She also noted that it was still a very low response rate of only approximately 1.2% of the electorate compared to the number of  signatories on the petition.

A Member affirmed the need to establish the right councillor to elector ratio and highlighted the difference in ratio between East Grinstead and Burgess Hill. He suggested that the status quo should be maintained and then increased to 22 for the Northern Arc.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, explained that the number of councillors needed is really a matter for the local town council and noted that East Grinstead thought they had too many at the moment.

The Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services outlined the proposal to base the number of councillors on the electorate forecast for 2027 which brings the total councillors to 19. He added that Council Size (the number of town councillors) is expected to be the subject of further submissions at the second public consultation.

A Member thanked the Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services and his team for all their work on the Community Governance Reviews.

The Head of Regulatory Services confirmed the recommendations and the proposal for 19 councillors for Burgess Hill Town Council. He also highlighted the recommendations for Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council which had the support of parish electors and current Members of the parish council.

The Chairman noted that no other Member wished to speak so took Members to vote on the recommendations which were approved unanimously.

RESOLVED   

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

(i)           Noted the findings of the first public consultation.

(ii)          Provided advice upon, and further to that advice, agreed the principal electoral authority’s draft recommendations for Burgess Hill Town Council and Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council, upon which a second public consultation would be conducted.

(iii)         Noted that following the second public consultation, further findings and the final recommendations of the principal electoral authority will be presented to this committee on 14 September 2022.

(iv)        Noted the final decision will be taken by Council in the light of the consultation responses received through the Community Governance Review.