Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Charles Bailey. No substitute was appointed.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017 - attached. 

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman signs them as such.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

None.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman.

None.

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

Councillor Ken Arlett, of Henley Town Council, had registered to speak at the meeting on the subject of the proposed boundary review between the parishes of Harpsden and Henley-on-Thames.  

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic on a review of the boundary between Harpsden and Henley-on-Thames parishes – attached.

Councillor Arlett, of Henley-on-Thames Town Council, spoke in support of the proposed boundary change for the following reasons:

·         Lack of appropriate infrastructure in Harpsden;

·         Existing and future residents of Highlands Park identify themselves as being part of Henley;

·         The proposed boundary change will have no impact on the viability of Harpsden, and any loss of electors will be compensated for by future planning developments in the parish.

The committee considered the report of the head of legal and democratic on draft proposals to amend the boundary between Harpsden parish and Henley parish. The review had been triggered following a request from Henley-on-Thames Town Council to transfer land south of Greys Road from Harpsden parish to Henley parish.

The committee was advised of a further representation from Harpsden Parish Council. The parish council will not be contesting the boundary change but raised the following points:

·         The area of AONB to the north of the footprint of the Highlands development is to be protected as such;   

·         The Town Field to the east of the footprint is to be protected as such;

·         The site of the house known as Treetops must be protected from any development as this will only exacerbate the problem of traffic on Gillotts Lane;

·         The transition of the Highlands development into the parish of Henley does not set a precedent for any other developments in the Parish. Any sizeable development in the Parish must be taken on its own merit.

Officers advised that this committee had no power to condition the above matters which were largely planning issues.

The committee agreed to consult on a draft proposal to amend the boundary between Harpsden and Henley parishes and to include any properties transferred as part of the review in the North ward of Henley-on-Thames Town Council. The committee considered that future residents of the proposed development at Highlands Farm will be better served as part of Henley parish, that effective and convenient local government is likely to be best achieved by the transfer of the area and support the development of coherent communities.

The committee noted that Oxfordshire County Council would consulted as a boundary change would impact on existing county division boundaries. 

RESOLVED:

1.    To amend the boundary between Harpsden parish and Henley-on-Thames parish south of Greys Road as shown on the map attached to the agenda pack.

2.    To include this area in the North Ward of Henley-on-Thames Town Council.

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic on a review of the number of parish councillors for Kidmore End Parish Council - attached.

The committee considered the report of the head of legal and democratic which invited it to make a final decision in respect the community governance review of the number of parish councillors for Kidmore End Parish Council.

The report recommended reducing the number of parish councillors from 12 to 10, for the reasons set out in the report attached to the agenda pack.

The committee debated the item. It was noted that Kidmore End Parish Council were supportive of the proposed reduction, in order to better reflect the smaller population of the parish following boundary changes.

RESOLVED:

1.    To reduce the number of parish councillors for Kidmore End Parish Council from 12 to 10.

2.    To authorise the head of legal and democratic to make a reorganisation of the community governance order to implement the changes agreed by the committee.