Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Community Governance Review Barleythorpe and Oakham North West - Rutland County Council Initial Consultation

Community Governance Review Barleythorpe and Oakham North West - Initial Consultation

Rutland County Council is currently conducting an important consultation.

The outcome of the review could affect residents in new homes in what is described as
the new Oakham North West Development. 

At town council level it is not part of Oakham and is part of Barleythorpe at County
level it is part of Oakham North West.

the initial consultation period for the Barleythorpe and Oakham North West Community Governance Review commenced on Friday 29 January 2016.  Letters were hand delivered to the households in the area under review inviting submission of responses to the consultation at the weekend. This consultation period will run until 29 April 2016.

A dedicated website page has also been set up, which includes all the relevant documents including the Terms of Reference, Illustrative Maps and Frequently Asked Questions and answers 


The review will be consider at a Rutland County Council  Full council Meeting in June 2016, after which a second period of consultation will commence. 


I found the easiest way to respond to this consultation is via the link to the on-line survey.

My response I chose option 3 because apart from the old councils misguided greed I can not
think of any good reason why Barleythorpe or the new Oakham North West development 
would want to come under the governance of Oakham Town Council. Why would Oakham
Town Council even want to consider increasing its membership, it often can not attract enough
members and when it does it often drives new members away as they did in the case of a 
Barleythorpe resident who resigned, he said he was bullied by members of the council and it had begun to change him into a person he did not like. Currently Oakham Town Council
has a tiny group of bullies who are bullying one of our new members, fortunately they 
are tough and supported by the majority. know this why would anyone moving into the new
area want to be part of such a organisation. Oakham Town Council is wasting thousands
of pounds of tax payers money by request this review.

My consultation response:

Oakham Town Council called for this review based on misguided greed, at a public meeting the clerk of the town council said its income would be increased and the good thing was the council did not have to provide any additional services for the new Oakham North development.

The reason Cllr Jane Woodcock (Mayor at the time the request) suggested residents of the
new Oakham North development might like to contribute to the councils concerts.
As it has now been realised the town councils precept demand is shared among all residents, meaning no additional income for the town council, I can see no reason for the town council to continue supporting this review.

I know some residents are not happy with the prospect of joining Oakham Town Council mainly for
financial reasons. 

Via social media one commented against the merging suggest their debt would increase, due to
paying Rutland County Council tax and a management fee for services other Rutland residents
find are paid for by their council tax. 

I support option three without the establishment of a parish council. That part of the decision should
only be decided by the residents of Barleythorpe and the new Oakham North West Development.
 

Cllr Martin Brookes



Community Governance Reviews


Chapter 3 of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 devolves the power to take decisions about matters such as the creation of parishes, changes to parish boundaries and electoral arrangements including warding and numbers of parish councillors from the Secretary of State and the Electoral Commission to Local Government and Local Communities in England.
What are community governance reviews?
Since February 2008, district councils, unitary councils and London borough councils (principal councils) have had responsibility for undertaking community governance reviews and have been able to decide whether to give effect to recommendations made in those reviews.  In making that decision, they will need to take account of the views of local people.
The full text of the 2007 Act can be accessed at: Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
Principal councils are also required to have regard to guidance on undertaking community governance reviews, which has been published by the Electoral Commission.
The guidance can be accessed at: Guidance on community governance reviews.
Why undertake a community governance review?
A community governance review can be undertaken in response to demographic changes such as a rise in population, for example as a result of a significant new housing development.
A review can also be triggered if a petition is presented to the principal council asking for a review to be undertaken as the 2007 Act places a duty on principal councils to respond to such a petition.  Sections 39-43 of the act set out prescriptive criteria, which the petition must meet in order to be legally valid.
The objective of undertaking a community governance review is to ensure that local governance will continue to be effective and convenient and will reflect the identities and interests of local communities.
Terms of reference for community governance reviews
The 2007 Act requires principal councils to determine and publish the terms of reference under which a community governance review is to be undertaken.  It also requires that the terms of reference specify the area under review.  If any modifications are made to the terms of reference, these must also be published.
Who undertakes community governance reviews?
As the principal authority, Rutland County Council is responsible for undertaking any community governance review within its electoral area.
Listed below are any Community Governance Reviews currently being undertaken or that have been completed by the Council.

BARLEYTHORPE AND OAKHAM NORTH WEST
(Initial Consultation 29 January 2016 to 29 April 2016)


Alternatively, you can respond to the consultation online at:https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/rutlandcgr2016


IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, OR WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASEEMAILcommunitygovernance@rutland.gov.uk