Agenda item

Terry Stanley, Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services, introduced the report. He presented the findings of the second public consultation specifically related to the earlier draft recommendations, and the resulting final recommendations for Burgess Hill Town Council. He gave apologies for the typographical error at paragraph 35, which refers to two wards called Northern Arc East, the second of which should read Northern Arc West. He presented the final recommendations for Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council, explaining the Other Options and Risk Management Considerations. He concluded that Burgess Hill Town Council should incorporate two new Parish wards of the Northern Arc East and West to be named respectively as Bedelands and St. Pauls as requested by public responses and elected representatives. The recommendations are before the Committee for examination, ahead of being recommended to Council on 12 October.

A Member congratulated officers for their efficiency and diligence given the significant workload and carrying out such thorough Community Governance Reviews and was fully supportive of the recommendations given the growth and diversity of the Town. He emphasised Bedelands and St Pauls were key landmarks of the Town, hence the request to name the two new parish wards as such. He asked for clarity on approaching the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to request a review of the County boundaries across the District, in particular Burgess Hill. Officers confirmed, a review of the boundaries would be for the County as a whole, not specifically Mid Sussex and that only when the boundaries become uneven would LGBCE be likely to undertake an Electoral Review of West Sussex County Council.

Members discussed the proposed names of the two new Parish wards, Bedelands and St Pauls in detail. Some Members felt it was more suitable to name the Parishes in line with the Homes England name changes to the housing developments. Councillor Pulfer proposed an amendment to the Town Council Ward names as follows:

‘The Ward names at paragraph 35 and paragraph 37 of the report be changed from Bedelands to Brookleigh East Ward and St Pauls to Brookleigh West Ward.’

This was seconded by Councillor Clarke. There was a discussion of the proposed amendment and some Members raised concerns the new names were not relevant to the areas they would represent and did not take into account the views of residents as part of the consultation.

The Chairman took Members to the vote on the amendment proposed by Councillor Pulfer, which was agreed with 7 in favour and 6 against and one abstention.

As there were no further questions from the Committee, the Chairman took Members to the vote on the recommendations as amended with 13 in favour and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED

The Scrutiny Committee for Community, Leisure and Parking:

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

(ii)           Provided advice upon, and further to that advice, accepted the principal electoral authority’s final recommendations for Burgess Hill Town Council subject to the amendment and Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council.

(iii)          Noted that in the light of the consultation responses received through each stage of the Community Governance Review, the final recommendations shall proceed to Council for final decision on 12 October 2022.