Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they had in the business on the agenda. There were none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th July 2008 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, Members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 10.00 am on Thursday, 4 September 2008.

There were no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report seeks approval to carry out a review of the electoral arrangements for the Parish of Earswick Without, following a request received from Earswick Parish Council to increase the number of members elected to their council.

Members considered a report which asked them to consider a request by Earswick Parish Council to increase the number of parish councillors elected to the parish council from five members to seven members.

The Electoral Administrator for York updated that the report had an error in paragraph 8. The word reduction should be replaced with the word increase. He outlined the report and advised that an increase in parish councillors would help the democratic process in the village and notices would be posted informing residents of the proposed increase.

The Chair circulated an email in support of the proposal from the Ward Councillor who is also a Parish Councillor. The email informed Members that Earswick had seen an increase in recent years in the number of properties within its boundaries and that an increase in Parish Councillors would ensure the Parish Council responsibilities for the area could be better managed.

Members asked questions in relation to the likelihood of being able to  elect a further two councillors. The Electoral Administrator confirmed that at the last election there had been a good response from possible candidates and could foresee no problem in electing two extra councillors.

Members were presented with the following options in relation to the electoral arrangements for the Parish of Earswick:

Option 1                    Members may agree to conduct a review of the electoral arrangements for the Parish of Earswick.

Option 2                    Members may refuse to conduct a review of the electoral arrangements for the Parish of Earswick.

RESOLVED:             That Option One be approved and a review of the electoral arrangements be carried out for the Parish of Earswick.

REASON                   To allow consultation to take place with relevant bodies to ensure the increase in the number of parish councillors would be beneficial to the democratic process.

Action Required

1. To conduct the review of the electoral arrangements for the Parish Earswick.