Democratic Services

PARISH REVIEW WORKING GROUP

WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST 2009

2.00 PM

GUILDHALL, CITY CHURCH, CENTRAL

http://cmis.milton-keynes.gov.uk/CmisWebPublic

Councillor Dransfield (Chair) Councillors Coventry, A Geary, McPake, Potts, White, Williams and Wright

If you have any enquires about this agenda please contact Simon Heap, Democratic Services Manager, Tel: (01908) 252567 or E-mail: [email protected]

Milton Keynes Council Strategy, Governance and Performance , Civic Offices 1 Saxon Gate East Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ 1 Tel: Milton Keynes (01908) 691691 Fax: (01908) 252456 Hays DX 31406 Milton Keynes 1 TERMS OF REFERENCE

To monitor the conduct of the Review. To receive reports and offer guidance to officers and parishes in relation to the Review. To report back to the Council in due course on the outcomes of the Review.

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AGENDA

1. Apologies 2. Minutes To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 29 July 2009 (Item 2) (Pages 4 to 6) 3. Changes to Parish Arrangements – Western Expansion Area (a) Suggested Warding Arrangements as approved by Council for consultation (Item 3[a]) (Pages 7 to 11) and Population Projections for the areas (Item 3[b]) (Page 12) (b) Representations from Shenley Church End Parish Council (c) Representations from Calverton Parish Meeting (d) Representations from Bradwell Abbey Parish Council (e) Representations received to the consultation so far (to follow) 4. Future Meetings To note that meetings of the Working Group will be held on the following dates: 7 September 2009; and 24 September 2009.

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ITEM 2

Minutes of the meeting of the PARISH REVIEW WORKING GROUP held on WEDNESDAY 29 JULY 2009 at 5.00 pm Present: Councillors Coventry, Dransfield, A Geary, McPake, Potts, Williams and Wright

Officers: J Moffoot (Head of Democratic Services), C Godfrey (Community Liaison Manager), S Chana (Parish Liaison Officer) and S Heap (Democratic Services Manager)

Also Present: Councillors Brock and P Geary and 6 members of the public

PBR01 ELECTION OF CHAIR It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Dransfield be elected Chair of the Working Group for the Council Year 2009/10. RESOLVED - That Councillor Dransfield be elected Chair of the Working Group for the Council Year 2009/10.

PBR02 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIR It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Coventry be appointed Vice-Chair of the Working Group for the Council Year 2009/10. RESOLVED – That Councillor Coventry be appointed Vice-Chair of the Working Group for the Council Year 2009/10.

PBR03 MINUTES It was noted that there were a number of errors in the plans used as part of the consultation, but that these would be corrected when the proposals were finalised. RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting of the Working Group held on 1 April 2009, be approved as a correct record.

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PBR04 CHANGES TO PARISH ARRANGEMENTS - OLNEY The Working Group considered suggested warding arrangements for the Olney Parish. In doing so the Working Group received from the Head of Democratic Services the reasons why the Council had decided to recommend that the Parish should be warded, the representations from representatives of Olney Parish Council and comments from the Local Ward Councillors. The Head of Democratic Services reported that the main reasons why the Council had decided to recommend the Parish should be warded were as follows: (a) to ensure more local representation; (b) to promote equality of representation; (c) to reduce the possibility of geographical interest groups potentially controlling the council; (d) to promote easier electoral management; (e) to reduce costs of by-elections; (f) to reflect consistency across the borough; and (g) to potentially facilitate a Borough Ward Boundary Review. The Working Group heard from representatives of Olney Parish Council, who opposed the Council’s recommendation for warding and the reasons given for warding, which in summary, was on the following grounds: (a) with regard to local representation, due to the size of Olney, anybody from any of the proposed wards could stand in any of the wards; (b) convenience for electoral management was not a relevant consideration and any electoral arrangements should be based on the needs and wishes of the community; (c) election costs would increase if three, rather than two, polling stations were used; (d) the principle of ‘one size fits all’ should not be used with regard to warding of parishes, the sense of community was more important; (e) the Borough Ward Boundary Review was not a relevant consideration for the Parish Review; (f) the Parish Council had never expressed any wish for warding; and (g) Olney was a market town focussed on the town centre, with no shopping / areas of community focus away from the town centre, which meant the town as a whole was a single community and the proposals lacked an understanding of community life in the town and also did not have regard to the

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Electoral Commission’s Guidelines on electoral arrangements. The Working Group also noted that a petition containing 492 signatures had been presented by the Parish Council opposing the warding of Olney Parish. The Working Group also heard from the local Ward Councillors who had conducted their own consultation and had received an overwhelming response against proposals to ward Olney Parish. The local Ward Councillors pointed out that: (a) turnout at elections in Olney remained high with few spoilt papers; (b) the Parish Council had a good mix of representation, in terms of age, experience and from across the town, (c) geographical interests had never been an issue; (d) an additional polling station would increase costs; (e) Olney being predominately a rural area should be treated in electoral terms as other rural areas; (f) the proposals did not accord with the Electoral Commission’s Guidelines; and (g) warding was potentially divisive for the town. The Head of Democratic Services reported that in addition to the petition submitted by the Parish Council, the Council had received 36 representations all opposed to the proposed warding. RESOLVED – That, subject to no further evidence submitted containing any new arguments relating to the warding of Olney Parish in the remaining consultation period, the Working Group formally recommends that the final submission to the Council does not contain warding proposals for Olney Parish.

PBR05 FUTURE MEETINGS RESOLVED – That the Working Group meet on the following dates to consider the items listed: (a) 12 August 2009 at 2.00 pm – Western Expansion Area; (b) 7 September 2009 at 2.00 pm – / ; and (c) 24 September 2009 at 5.00 pm – any other items outstanding.

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PARISH BOUNDARY DESCRIPTIONS

Abbey Hill From a point where the A5 intersects with Ridgeway – H1, south along the A5 to its intersection with Dansteed (5 councillors) Way - H4, then west along Dansteed Way - H4 to the northern boundary of Hazeley School, then in a south westerly direction following field boundaries to the Borough boundary, then in a northerly direction, following the Borough boundary, to Whaddon Road, then in a north easterly direction, following Whaddon Road, the North Bucks Way and field boundaries to Ridgeway – H1, then east along Ridgeway – H1 to its intersection with the A5.

Calverton From a point at the rear of Tudor Gardens to the designated area boundary which runs to the rear of Tudor (Parish Meeting) Gardens, Gorricks and Crosshills to the junction of Calverton Road, then south along Calverton Road to the junction with Beachampton Road, then north following the stream to the recreation area, then north west along the boundary of the recreation area to a point where it meets the River Great Ouse, then south along the River Great Ouse to the Borough boundary, then south east along the Borough boundary to its intersection with Whaddon Road, then north east along Whaddon Road, then in a north easterly direction, following Whaddon Road, the North Bucks Way and field boundaries to the point at the rear of Tudor Gardens.

Shenley Church From Knowlhill roundabout, north west along – V4 to Crownhill roundabout, then south west along End Dansteed Way – H4 to the northern boundary of Hazeley School, then in a south westerly direction following field (12 councillors) boundaries and Whaddon Road to the Borough boundary, then south east along the Borough boundary to Childs Way – H6, then east along Childs Way – H6 to Knowlhill roundabout.

Crownhill (3 seats) From Crownhill roundabout, south east along Watling Street – V4 to Loughton roundabout, south along Portway – H5 to Medbourne roundabout, north west along Fulmer Street – V3 to Grange Farm roundabout and north east

along Dansteed Way – H4 to Crownhill roundabout. ITEM 3(a)

1 7

Shenley Church Grange Farm & Hazeley (2 seats) End (cont) From Grange Farm roundabout, south west along Dansteed Way – H4 to the northern boundary of Hazeley School, then in a south westerly direction following field boundaries and Whaddon Road to the Borough boundary, then south east along the Borough boundary to its intersection with the North Bucks Way, north along the eastern boundary of Oakhill Wood to the southern boundary of Hazeley Secondary School, east along the southern boundary of Hazeley Secondary School to Portway – H5, north east along Portway – H5 to Medbourne roundabout, north west along Fulmer Street – V3 to Grange Farm roundabout.

Medbourne, Oakhill, Oxley Park & Shenley Wood (3 seats) From Medbourne roundabout, south west along Portway – H5 to the southern boundary of Hazeley Secondary School, west along the southern boundary of Hazeley Secondary School to its intersection with the North Bucks Way, south along the eastern boundary of Oakhill Wood to the Borough boundary, following the Borough boundary south to its intersection with Childs Way – H6, then north east along Childs Way – H6 to Shenley roundabout, then north west along Fulmer Street – V3 to Medbourne roundabout.

Shenley Church End (4 seats) From Loughton roundabout, south east along Watling Street – V4 to Knowlhill roundabout, south along Childs Way – H6 to Shenley roundabout, north along Fulmer Street – V3 to Medbourne roundabout, east along Portway – H5 to Loughton roundabout.

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10

11

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Parish 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Calverton 200 200 300 600 1,100 1,700 2,400

Shenley Church End 10,500 10,700 10,900 11,300 11,700 12,100 12,600

ITEM 3(b) 12