Issue - meetings

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements.

The Council is under a duty to carry out a community governance review if it receives a valid community governance petition for the whole or part of the council’s area.

Cabinet is asked to note the receipt of a valid petition and the duty to undertake a Community Governance Review and to approve the terms of reference and timetable to commence a review for that area defined in the petition.

RESOLVED that

(a)    a Community Governance Review be conducted, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, and the timetable and terms of reference for the Review, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report, be approved;

(b)     the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to take all necessary steps in relation to the Review;

(c)    a Task and Finish Group, to consider the Review and make recommendations to the Council, be appointed, comprising five councillors (two Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, one Independent, and one Poole People Party), with Muscliff and Strouden Park ward councillors being invited in an advisory capacity.

Voting: Unanimous

REASON

To comply with the duty to undertake a community governance review following the receipt of a valid petition.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Communities presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated and which appears as Appendix 'J' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements. The Portfolio Holder advised that a valid petition had been received in respect of Throop and Holdenhurst. In accordance with the above legislation, the Council had a duty to respond to the petition, by undertaking a community governance review and approving the terms of reference and timetable to commence the review for that area defined in the petition.

The Portfolio Holder reported a proposed amendment to Recommendation 3 of the report, to enable a councillor from Poole People Party to be included in the membership of the Task and Finish Group, therefore increasing the membership from four to five councillors.  The Cabinet also agreed to delete the word ‘other’ from Recommendation 3.

A number of Cabinet Members commented on the importance of this proposal in giving a voice to the community at a local level.

The Leader of the Council reported that it was the intention of the Council to undertake a wider review of community governance arrangements across most if not all of the BCP area, to enable a comprehensive approach to be adopted for the future.

It was clarified that the recommendations before Cabinet at this meeting did not require a Full Council decision.

RESOLVED that

(a)    a Community Governance Review be conducted, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, and the timetable and terms of reference for the Review, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report, be approved;

(b)    the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to take all necessary steps in relation to the Review;

(c)      a Task and Finish Group, to consider the Review and make recommendations to the Council, be appointed, comprising five councillors (two Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, one Independent, and one Poole People Party), with Muscliff and Strouden Park ward councillors being invited in an advisory capacity.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Tourism, Leisure and Communities