Agenda item

This report brings forward proposals in respect of the governance arrangements for three parish councils and seeks approval to further direct consultation.

[See also Part B minute]

Members considered a report that presented proposals in respect of the governance arrangements for three parish councils and which sought approval to further direct consultation:

Request from the Osbaldwick Parish Council to remove the development of Derwenthorpe from the Parish area

Members considered a request from Osbaldwick Parish Council to have the development known as the Derwenthorpe Estate removed from the parish.  The Parish Council believed that this would represent a return to a more traditional boundary of the parish.  The Parish Council had also stated that the Derwenthorpe Estate was a private estate for which the Parish Council provided no services or infrastructure.  Members noted that this proposal was not universally popular and that it was the view of officers that any proposal to remove Derwenthorpe should be accompanied by a proposal to remove Meadlands for the reasons detailed in the report, including the fact that it was geographically isolated from Osbaldwick.

Officers stated that they had visited the parish and, as there was no clear evidence why the Derwenthorpe estate should be removed from the parish area, it was important to ascertain the views of residents. 

Members gave consideration to a recommendation from officers

that residents of the parish be consulted on the following three

options:

·        Consult on no change.

·        Consult to ward the parish.  This would involve creating three wards.  A northern ward could include Meadlands and Derwenthorpe, a central ward would cover the older settlement and a southern ward close to Hull Road.  The precise boundaries would be drawn with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, that each ward has a similar number of parish councillors.

·        Consult to remove Derwenthorpe and Meadlands Estates from the parish, with a sub option of creating a new Parish Council for those areas.

Members agreed that the consultation should include the wording “and/or” in respect of options concerning Meadlands.

Members noted that if agreement was given for consultation to take place on the proposals, each household in the parish would receive a leaflet setting out the options and reasons for the survey and information would be available on the website.  Public consultation meetings would be held as well as meetings with residents associations and other interested parties. The findings would be reported back to the committee.  Members sought clarification as to whether there would be any benefit in deferring the consultation.  Officers explained that the consultation period could be as long as Members thought appropriate. 

Members agreed on the importance of ensuring that there was full consultation on the options and were keen to ensure that any changes were not divisive and supported community cohesion.

Request from Osbaldwick Parish to include streets around Broughton Way on the south west of the parish and streets around Tranby Avenue on the South East of the parish.

Members gave consideration to a further request from Osbaldwick Parish Council to include a number of streets that border the parish, where the Parish Council believed that residents identify as part of the Osbaldwick parish community.  These were:

·        On the South West boundary the streets of Broughton Way, Seaton Close, Elwick Grove, Whitton Place, Sadberge Close, Wolviston Avenue and Carlton Avenue as suggested as being incorporated to the parish, as marked as Area C on Annex B of the report.

·        On the South East boundary the start of Tranby Avenue from properties 1 to 17 and 2 to 24, along with Cavendish Grove be incorporated to the parish, as marked as Area D on Annex B of the report.

Members noted the views of officers on the proposals, as detailed in paragraphs 4.2 to 4.6 of the report.

Members noted the officer recommendation that consultation take

place with residents, ward councillors and Murton Parish on the

incorporation of the properties indicated in Area A and Area B of

Annex D to the report.

Outstanding requests

Members noted that officers were still working with relevant parties on requests to create a Parish Council in Guildhall, and for changes to Rawcliffe, Haxby and Wheldrake Parish Councils.  An update on progress with these requests was included at Annex A of the report.  A further update would be presented to the committee at a later date.

Resolved:  That officers be asked to commence public

consultation on the options for future arrangements for Osbaldwick Parish as set out in the report subject to the wording being amended to read “and/or” in respect of those options referring to Meadlands.

Reason:     To allow better local representation for the electors of

                   the parishes.