Agenda item
Spitalfields Community Governance Review - Draft Recommendations
Minutes:
The Committee received and noted a report that was the result of a valid petition having been received that had required a Community Governance Review to be undertaken in the Spitalfields and Banglatown area of the borough. It was noted that the report presented the draft recommendations on the review for consideration by the Committee following that first stage consultation. The findings from this first stage would inform those recommendations to be consulted on. After the draft recommendations have been published there would be a further consultation period of twelve weeks with the final recommendations to be submitted to Council in July 2019. The questions and comments on the report may be summarised as follows:
The Committee:
· Noted that the first stage consultation process had been undertaken based on the proposals in the petition for the name and boundary of the Parish and with it having three wards within it;
· Had been addressed by campaigners and they were asked about the second stage consultation plan and they did not raise any significant concerns about the plans;
· Noted that a Parish would need to reflect the identity and interests of the community and that the Council was not persuaded at this stage that the creation of a parish would be in the interest of all those in the local community or suitable for the delivery of services;
· Observed that the Council would wish to see evidence of a cohesive process that actively engaged all the groups (e.g. the Bangladeshi community; women; pensioners and those in need of welfare support)
· Noted that there were strong opinions both in favour and against the proposals in the petition;
· Was informed that the Council believes that if the Parish was to be created then its boundaries and name would need to be varied from the original proposal in the petition;
· Noted that during phase 1 of the consultation the campaigners had proposed an extension of the boundary of the parishes eastwards. The Council would consult on a modified version of this boundary proposal, which it was noted did not include the Bishopsgate Goods Yard site; and
· Was reminded that the Council has set out what it believes are the options that it would wish to consult on (a) Create a parish council but with modifications to the proposals made in the petition; (b) Reject the proposal to create a parish council and retain existing governance arrangements; and (c) Reject the proposal to create a parish council but instead create or strengthen non-parish forms of community governance.
Following discussion the Committee confirmed they were content with the plans set out for the second stage consultation and had no comments to make on the documents presented.
Accordingly, the Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED to note the:
1. Community Governance Review Draft Recommendations; summary consultation responses and second stage consultation information set out in Appendix 1;
2. Full first stage consultation analysis as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;
3. Equality analysis set out in Appendix 3 of the report; and
4. Updated Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 4.
Supporting documents:
- 6.1 Cover Report - Spitalfields Community Governance Review Draft Recommendations, item 4.3 PDF 105 KB
- 6.1a UPDATED Appendix 1 - Community Governance Review Draft Recommendations, item 4.3 PDF 147 KB
- 6.1aa Annex to Appendix 1 - parish council boundary options, item 4.3 PDF 2 MB
- 6.1d Appendix 4 - CGR terms of reference - Updated, item 4.3 PDF 1 MB
- 6.1b Appendix 2 - Detailed Response Analysis, item 4.3 PDF 4 MB
- 6.1c Appendix 3 - Equality Impact Analysis, item 4.3 PDF 189 KB