Agenda and minutes

There were no substitutions at the meeting.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests and declarations of whipping arrangements.

That the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held on 12 December 2023, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Chairman.

There were no public speaking requests.

Discussion and questions with Richard Mell, Head of Democracy, North Lincolnshire Council

The Director: Outcomes submitted a report that was considered by Council at its meeting on 5 October 2023.  The report requested that Council consider undertaking a Community Governance Review of Parish Councils in North Lincolnshire, consider and approve proposed draft Terms of Reference of the review at appendix 1 of the report, and authorise the Governance Scrutiny Panel to carry out the review and submit its recommendations to Council within required statutory timescales.

The Director in her report explained that Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (the 2007 Act), relevant parts of the Local Government Act 1972 and guidance issued in 2010 by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England allowed for, place a responsibility on and guide principal councils on undertaking Community Governance Reviews (CGR) of parishes(town/parish councils) within their district boundary.  The 2007 Act enabled principal councils to carry out a review of the whole or part of the district to consider one or more of the following –

·           Creating, merging altering or abolishing parishes

·           The naming of parishes and the style of any new parishes

·           The electoral arrangements for parishes ie. the ordinary year of election, council size, the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding,

·           Grouping of parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes

A CGR must reflect the identities and interests of the communities in that area and be effective and convenient.  Consequently, a CGR must consider –

·           The impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion and

·           The size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish

A CGR provided an opportunity for principal councils to review and make changes to community governance in their areas.  Such reviews could be undertaken when there have been changes in population for example, or in response to specific, or local issues to ensure that the community governance in the area continues to be effective and convenient and reflects the identities and interests of the communities involved.

The report stated that following the implementation of the recommendations of the CGR carried out for North Lincolnshire Town Councils in May 2019, several parish councils had liaised, and expressed preferences with the Council regarding their electoral arrangements, numbers of councillors and community representation.  Also, following the recent periodic electoral review of North Lincolnshire and implementation of its recommendations in May 2023 it was appropriate and timely to consider undertaking a CGR of these arrangements, apply a consistent approach and enhance the opportunity for democratic elections by conducting a review of parish councils across North Lincolnshire. The proposed terms of reference of the CGR were attached as appendix 1.

During a CGR the council would need to consult local people and take account of any representations received in connection with the review.  Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, the council would take account of the views of local people in the parishes and would need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.

There was no urgent business for consideration at the meeting.