Agenda item

Review of Governance Arrangements - Margate

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor E Green and seconded by Councillor Johnston:

“THAT the recommendations as set out in paragraphs 4.1.1 to 4.1.3 of the report be adopted, namely:

‘4.1.1 The creation of a Westgate Parish Council, but that the remainder of the currently un-parished area of Margate retains Charter Trustees

4.1.2 That the detailed arrangements be as follows:

	Westgate-on-Sea	Remainder of currently un-parished area of Margate
Governance	Town/Parish Council to replace Charter Trustees	“No change” - Margate Charter Trustees remain.
Boundaries	Same as for current District Ward of Westgate-on-Sea	Same as for currently un-parished area of Margate except for Ward of Westgate-on-Sea
Names	Westgate	N/A
Styles	Parish Council	N/A
Electoral divisions	Same as current District Ward of Westgate-on-Sea	No changes to current District Ward boundaries of: Cliftonville East, Cliftonville West, Dane Valley, Garlinge, Margate Central, Salmestone, and Westbrook.
Number of councillors	10	Would be elected by virtue of District elections to relevant Wards
Whether any grouping or de-grouping is desired	No	No
Whether any consequential amendments to existing District or County electoral arrangements are to be recommended to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.	No	No
Date of first election	7 May 2015	Would be elected by virtue of District elections to relevant Wards on 7 May 2015 and every subsequent District election to those Wards.

4.1.3 That council delegates authority to the Interim Legal Services Manager to ensure that all necessary steps required to create a community governance order in accordance with Council’s decision are taken, and to the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer to include any necessary changes into the electoral register to be published on 1 December 2014 (following the 2014 canvass).’”

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Bayford and seconded by Councillor S Tomlinson, as follows:

“THAT as the number of residents expressing an opinion is statistically insignificant, there should presently be no change to existing governance arrangements, and that a referendum be held on the 7^th May 2015 to determine the majority view of the residents affected.”

Mr Boyle, the Monitoring Officer advised that the amendment could not be accepted as it acted to negate the proposition that was put forward in the agenda item.

Councillor C Hart requested that the recommendation at paragraph 4.1.1 be split to allow a vote on the creation of Westgate Parish Council, followed by a separate vote on leaving the remainder of the currently un-parished area of Margate under the control of the Charter Trustees.

Upon being put to the meeting (and thus with the consent of the proposer and seconder of the original motion) this request was AGREED.

In response to questions, Dr Back (Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager) clarified that under the relevant legislation, the Council would need to take the consultation result into consideration when making its decision.

A Member enquired whether Council could abstain from making a decision.

Mr Boyle (Interim Legal Services Manager) advised that the expectation was to take forward the views expressed in the consultation. If Members did not make a decision there would be a risk that the Council could be challenged on why it did not implement the views expressed in the consultation.

Adoption of Motion

Upon the three component parts of the motion being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED

1. THAT a Westgate Parish Council be created and that the detailed arrangements be as follows:

	Westgate-on-Sea
Governance	Town/Parish Council to replace Charter Trustees
Boundaries	Same as for current District Ward of Westgate-on-Sea
Names	Westgate
Styles	Parish Council
Electoral divisions	Same as current District Ward of Westgate-on-Sea
Number of councillors	10
Whether any grouping or de-grouping is desired	No
Whether any consequential amendments to existing District or County electoral arrangements are to be recommended to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.	No
Date of first election	7 May 2015

2. THAT the remainder of the currently un-parished area of Margate retains Charter Trustees and that the detailed arrangements be as follows:

	Remainder of currently un-parished area of Margate
Governance	“No change” - Margate Charter Trustees remain.
Boundaries	Same as for currently un-parished area of Margate except for Ward of Westgate-on-Sea
Names	N/A
Styles	N/A
Electoral divisions	No changes to current District Ward boundaries of: Cliftonville East, Cliftonville West, Dane Valley, Garlinge, Margate Central, Salmestone, and Westbrook.
Number of councillors	Would be elected by virtue of District elections to relevant Wards
Whether any grouping or de-grouping is desired	No
Whether any consequential amendments to existing District or County electoral arrangements are to be recommended to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.	No
Date of first election	Would be elected by virtue of District elections to relevant Wards on 7 May 2015 and every subsequent District election to those Wards.

3. THAT Council delegates authority to the Interim Legal Services Manager to ensure that all necessary steps required to create a community governance order in accordance with Council’s decision are taken, and to the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer to include any necessary changes into the electoral register to be published on 1 December 2014 (following the 2014 canvass).

Supporting documents: