The Review Officer () Local Government Boundary Commission for

By email [email protected]

14 August 2017

Dear Review Officer for Torbay,

Re: Consultation on Warding Arrangement

We write as the Churston, Galmpton and Broadsands Community Partnership, a formally constituted community group whose area broadly tracks that of the electoral ward of Churston and Galmpton.

Our Community Partnership is one of 16 such partnerships across Torbay which allow people who live or work in the area to come together to discuss issues of common concern, influence the way in which services are provided and improve their local area. In essence, the Community Partnership is a grass roots connection between the local community and Torbay Council.

We make the following points:

1. That where possible ward boundaries should respond to how communities identify themselves and that the best available evidence of this in our area is how the community has come together to produce the Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan.

Shown on a map at Appendix 1, the Brixham Peninsula area includes the Parish of Brixham Town Council and the Community Partnership area of Churston, Galmpton and Broadsands.

This area was formally approved by Torbay Council on 6 December 2012 (Minute 93) having been proposed and voted on unanimously by both the Community Partnership and Brixham Town Council.

The plan has been consulted on at Regulation 14 stage. Of the 381 responses received, 74% of people supported the plan. The plan is now is due to be submitted to Torbay Council during August 2017. 2. That the Churston and Galmpton ward should be expanded to include a portion of the Berry Head and Furzeham Ward.

This allows the ward to become a 3 Councillor ward so that the numbers of electors to councillors more fairly aligns with other wards across Torbay.

This recommendation aligns to the representation of Brixham Town Council (Appendix 2) and Torbay Council. It is noted there is a historical precedent for this recommendation. From 1972 the electoral ward was called Churston with Furzeham and encompassed the present Churston and Galmpton ward with part of the area of Furzeham, now part of the Berry Head with Furzeham ward.

In relation to the Torbay Council representation we consider it appropriate to draw to the Commission’s attention certain errors in the Officers Report. Page 203: - We believe this should say “Add 177 properties from JC (Furzeham area) not JD (Brixham Town) to the ward”. Page 212 - There is here text which is wholly erroneous and has clearly been included in error. The comment “Churston with Galmpton Ward to have the correct number of electors following the removal of electors from Churston Village” should be ignored

3. That Churston and Galmpton ward should not be expanded to include part of Blatchcombe ward (AE area south of Long Road).

This area is situated outside the Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan area. It is separated from the area of Churston Galmpton and Broadsands by a large tract of farmland. This area of Blatchcome has always been associated with and has affinities with . It does not fit logically in any way with our area or with any part of Brixham.

4. That we are aware of a long term community aspiration across the Brixham Peninsula Area that our area should be administered by District Council and Country Council not Torbay Council.

While this may go beyond the scope of your consultation this aspiration comes up repeatedly in public debate when matters of representation are discussed. Accordingly, please could the Commission direct us as to how this aspiration should be evidenced and taken forward?

We hope that these comments are of use to you.

Yours faithfully.

Adam Billings

Chairman, Churston, Galmpton and Broadsands Community Partnership.

Appendix 1 Map of the Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan area

Appendix 2 Submission by Brixham Town Council

From: Info Sent: 01 August 2017 09:10 To: '[email protected]' Subject: Electoral Review of Torbay: Warding Arrangements

Dear Sirs

At the Town Council meeting held on 27th July, members considered the boundary ward arrangements for the Brixham proportion of the Torbay electoral review.

The Council notes from The Local Government Boundary Commission’s technical guidance that there is a “need to reflect local community identities and interests, and provide for effective and convenient local government as well as the need to consider the appropriate number of councillors for each ward or division.”

Brixham Town Council resolved that the wards should revolve around the Brixham Peninsula to identify where the communities have been working closely together to create the Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan. The Town Council therefore proposes the following:

St. Mary’s with Summercombe Ward No changes.

Berry Head with Furzeham Ward Move a proportion of the ward to the Churston and Galmpton Ward and retitle the ‘Berry Head Ward’.

Churston and Galmpton Ward Include the proportion of the Berry Head and Furzeham Ward and retitle the ‘Brixham with Churston and Galmpton Ward’.

Yours faithfully Tracy Hallett Town Clerk

Brixham Town Council, Town Hall, New Road, Brixham TQ5 8TA 01803 859678