Agenda item

In accordance with a recommendation made by the Boundary Review Panel at its meeting on Friday 7 September 2018, the Council is requested to make the following resolution:

That having considered the responses from a consultation on the community governance review of the parish boundary between Harting and Rogate, the Council approves:

(1)  The transfer of the three residential properties known as Ashleigh, Briarswood and Prestwood and a number of industrial units from the parish of Rogate to the parish of Harting as denoted on the map appended to the agenda report.

(2)  The publication of the outcome of the community governance review, following which the appropriate reorganisation order is made and all necessary arrangements are carried out.

In order to assist members understand the proposed boundary change, a map is attached.

The report to the Boundary Review Panel may be viewed by members via the extranet.

The Council considered a recommendation made to it by the Boundary Review Panel (BRevP) at its meeting on Friday 7 September 2018, the text of which appeared on the face of the Council agenda. A plan of the area the subject of the proposed community governance review (CGR) and boundary change was circulated with the agenda. 

Mr S Lloyd-Williams (Chichester North and a BRevP member) formally moved the recommendation and this was seconded by Mrs J Kilby (Chichester East and a BRevP member).

In the absence of the BRevP chairman Mr J Ridd (Donnington) and the vice-chairman Mr G McAra (Midhurst), Mr Lloyd-Williams presented the BRevP’s recommendation. He summarised the consideration given by the BRevP at its meetings on 23 February 2018, 3 May 2018 and 7 September 2018 to the request by Harting Parish Council (at the behest of a local resident of one of the dwellings which would be affected by the proposed boundary change) for a CGR to be undertaken. The intention was to move an area, which included three residential properties and some industrial units, from the parish of Rogate to the parish of Harting. The BRevP had previously recommended to the Council that a CGR consultation be undertaken, following which it was now recommending that the Council should approve the boundary change having regard to the outcome of the consultation and that the boundary change would be (a) reflective of the identities and interests of the communities in the area as stipulated and (b) effective and convenient pursuant to section 93 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.     

Mr A Shaxson (Harting), who had attended the BRevP’s recent meeting in order to assist its understanding of the local area and the background to the request, spoke in support of the recommendation. He suggested, however, that the proposed new parish boundary should be adjusted so that it followed natural geographical features rather than the line of overhead cables.

Mrs D Shepherd (Chief Executive) advised that this could not be done without first undertaking a further community governance review consultation on that specific proposal if the Council was minded to accede to Mr Shaxson’s suggestion.

Mr Shaxson did not pursue his proposal.

Dr K O’Kelly (Rogate) said that the BRevP’s recommendation proposed what was overall a sensible boundary change. She thanked everyone who had worked on behalf of the community to achieve this outcome.  

Decision

On a show of hands the members present voted unanimously in favour of the BRevP’s recommendation with no votes against and no abstentions.   

RESOLVED

That having considered the responses from a consultation on the community governance review of the parish boundary between Harting and Rogate, the Council approves:

(1)   The transfer of the three residential properties known as Ashleigh, Briarswood and Prestwood and a number of industrial units from the parish of Rogate to the parish of Harting as denoted on the map appended to the agenda report.

(2)   The publication of the outcome of the community governance review, following which the appropriate reorganisation order is made and all necessary arrangements are carried out.