Parish and Town Council Submissions to the West Devon Borough Council Electoral Review

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Parish and Town Council submissions to the West Devon Borough Council electoral review

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Lucy

As previously notified, the proposed Boundary Changes was an item on our agenda at the Brentor Parish Meeting on 21st July.

The following are the views of the Parish Council:-

• You have acknowledged that we do have a link with Mary Tavy but to continue to be included in a ward with Mary Tavy ‘ would result in our Dartmoor ward having a poor level of electoral equality ‘. Your documents set out the three criteria to be considered in drawing up new electoral arrangements but there is no indication that electoral equality should take priority over community interest. We contend that if anything community interest should be given priority. To reiterate the community link is through the primary school and its associated activities, the shop and post office and two pubs are the nearest to Brentor, and through the provision of telephone and internet services through the shared exchange. This last point is significant in that Brentor, Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy parishes shared an (unsuccessful) application to the Rural Community Broadband fund in an attempt to improve the provision of much needed improved broadband services in our joint areas. • With the proposed Boundary Change, the parishes to the North, which Brentor would be included with, all look to Okehampton for leisure, shopping, education, health care etc. This is not so for the parishioners of Brentor whose interests and day to day lives would be completely separate from the rest of the ward. We do not consider that the interests of our community would be best served by councillors whose market town focus is not Tavistock. • Currently 77% of the Parish live within the National Park and all living within the other two parishes in the current ward are also in DNPA, giving a total for the ward of 94%. In the proposed ward only 3% of the population would live within DNPA. As DNPA is the planning authority for most of the parish it is clear that we will not be well served by councillors who would have such little interest in that organisation.

We have begun discussions with Lydford parish council on this subject and will be meeting in the near future to put forward a joint proposal. We would ask that you consider this in due course.

Fuller, Heather

From: Peter Daniels Sent: 23 May 2014 15:07 To: Ward, Lucy Subject: Bridestowe Parish Council's Response to Electoral Review of West Devon

Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged

LGBC, Lucy Ward Review Officer.

Dear Lucy Ward,

The concerns of Bridestowe Parish Council over the Draft Recommendations in the Electoral review of West Devon are as follows:

 There are very large geographical areas for councillors to cover. The proposed wards are geographically far too large and are inconvenient for councillors to represent their communities in a democratic and effective manner.  Our ward councillor attends most Bridestowe Parish Council meetings and is indeed the chair of Sourton Parish Pouncil. He is local, very well known to his electorate, approachable and trusted. These proposals for large wards will create a very real risk of the ward member being isolated from their parish councils.  The 10 parish councils in the proposed Bridestowe ward do not reflect where local people in Bridestowe and Sourton shop, use medical facilities etc.  There are clear identifiable boundaries which have been ignored in the 10 PC Bridestowe ward. For example Blackdown Moor on the northern edges of Dartmoor separates Brentor from parishes like Bridestowe and Sourton.

Bridestowe Parish Council proposes the following:

1 PCs remain in the same ward. Bridestowe and Sourton PCs work closely together on joint projects. (Currently a joint Parish Plan project and also a joint Lengthsman project).  Abandon the two member wards in rural West Devon. The proposal is impractical.  The Boundary Commission considers carefully and appreciates the practicality for councillors in very rural areas to effectively represent their communities over extensive geographical areas. Given the low population density in rural West Devon, it is difficult for there to be equal numbers of the electorate in wards without the geographical area becoming very large. In this case the need for equal numbers in wards should be waived, so as to allow the subsequently smaller geographical area, to be managed effectively by councillors, in meeting local need. Would you please be so kind as to acknowledge receipt of this email.

Many thanks,

P. J. Daniels. Bridestowe PC Clerk.

Thank you for your submission regarding the review of electoral arrangements in West Devon. Your views will be taken into account by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in formulating its final proposals for warding arrangements.

Please note that this stage of the review is a public consultation, and the Commission places great importance on ensuring openness and transparency in the way it deals with all representations. Full copies of all representations received will be made available for public inspection at our offices (by appointment), and at those of West Devon Borough Council. They will also be available for viewing on the Commission’s website, at www.lgbce.org.uk.

We remove all personal identifiers of individuals, such as personal postal or email addresses, signatures or personal phone numbers from your submission before it is made public. However, we do not remove names. If you do not want all or any part of your response or name made public, please state this clearly in reply to this letter and we will endeavour to respect your wish. Any such request should explain why confidentiality is necessary, but all information in responses may be subject to publication or disclosure as required by law (in particular under the Freedom of Information Act 2000).

The Commission’s final recommendations for West Devon will be published in October 2014. Updates will be published on our website, http://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south- west/devon/west-devon-fer

Kind regards,

Lucy Ward Review Officer Local Government Boundary Commission for England Layden House 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG Tel: 020 7664 8520 Email: [email protected]

From: Peter Daniels Sent: 23 May 2014 15:07 To: Ward, Lucy Subject: Bridestowe Parish Council's Response to Electoral Review of West Devon

LGBC, Lucy Ward Review Officer.

Dear Lucy Ward,

The concerns of Bridestowe Parish Council over the Draft Recommendations in the Electoral review of West Devon are as follows:

2  Our ward councillor attends most Bridestowe Parish Council meetings and is indeed the chair of Sourton Parish Pouncil. He is local, very well known to his electorate, approachable and trusted. These proposals for large wards will create a very real risk of the ward member being isolated from their parish councils.  The 10 parish councils in the proposed Bridestowe ward do not reflect where local people in Bridestowe and Sourton shop, use medical facilities etc.  There are clear identifiable boundaries which have been ignored in the 10 PC Bridestowe ward. For example Blackdown Moor on the northern edges of Dartmoor separates Brentor from parishes like Bridestowe and Sourton.

Bridestowe Parish Council proposes the following:

 Ideally the existing Bridestowe ward would remain as it currently stands, as it has been working so very well for many years. If this is not possible then the 10 parish council ward proposal should be split into two wards of five (say), ensuring that Bridestowe and Sourton PCs remain in the same ward. Bridestowe and Sourton PCs work closely together on joint projects. (Currently a joint Parish Plan project and also a joint Lengthsman project).  Abandon the two member wards in rural West Devon. The proposal is impractical.  The Boundary Commission considers carefully and appreciates the practicality for councillors in very rural areas to effectively represent their communities over extensive geographical areas. Given the low population density in rural West Devon, it is difficult for there to be equal numbers of the electorate in wards without the geographical area becoming very large. In this case the need for equal numbers in wards should be waived, so as to allow the subsequently smaller geographical area, to be managed effectively by councillors, in meeting local need.

Would you please be so kind as to acknowledge receipt of this email.

Many thanks,

P. J. Daniels. Bridestowe PC Clerk.

3 Broadwoodkelly Parish Council

Broadwoodkelly Parish Council wants to make it quite clear that they wish to remain within Exbourne Ward for the following reasons:

You state that you believe each local authority/Parish should be considered individually and not compared to others of a similar size. We have 206 voters who will be under represented if they were amalgamated with North Tawton. Our small but clear voice would be almost totally lost in North Tawton. Within Exbourne Ward we have an identity and working relationship with Iddesleigh, Monkokehampton, Exbourne and Jacobstowe.

You say community identity could be defined by location of public facilities, doctors, hospitals, libraries or schools: We have no such facilities in our parish. We use Chulmleigh, Hatherleigh and Okehampton surgeries, Exeter, Okehampton and Barnstaple hospitals; have a library van and the children attend Winkleigh, Exbourne or Hatherleigh Primary and Chulmleigh Community College. We have no identification with North Tawton in these areas.

You say that communities change over time and historical considerations may not have any importance. Really! We do have a tiny movement of families but they mostly stay or return to the parish. We have many old families with their roots going back through many generations. Our history is important to us and North Tawton has not shown any interest in our heritage or our community.

You say you take into consideration recorded community interactions and collective engagements. Broadwoodkelly Parish Council has always worked closely with Iddesleigh and Monkokehampton Parish Councils. We share the same ethos and have a strong alliance. Recently the three parishes have successfully collaborated over the purchase of a salt spreader and also received a collective grant with Exbourne from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. Broadwoodkelly, Iddesleigh, Monkokehampton, Exbourne and Jacobstowe have also collaborated together and received another grant from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. We respect and understand one another.

You say you understand that people have strongly held views about their communities. We in Broadwoodkelly do. We have an historic identity within our Parish as well as holding close links with Iddesleigh and Monkokehampton. We are a rural community and as such many farmers hold land in the adjoining parishes. We share a rural landscape and agricultural ties with Exbourne. We know this would be under threat from a move to a ward dominated by a town who have little experience/knowledge of our rural retreat. This is a natural area which does not lean towards North Tawton; location wise, physically or naturally.

You say you take into consideration the representational role of councillors in the local community and how they engage with people and represent the council on local parish councils. You also talk about the work of Borough Councillors. Our Exbourne Ward Borough Councillor constantly supports Broadwoodkelly Parish. He has attended every Parish Council meeting since his election. He keeps the Parish up to date with what West Devon are doing. He listens to us and takes our concerns on- board. North Tawton has shown no concern for the Parish over the years and has shown no understanding of our really rural parish. Broadwoodkelly will just become a small fish in a big ocean.

Broadwoodkelly Parish Council wants to reiterate that they publicly represent the Parish and the views of the Parishioners. Mrs S Whitcher, Parish Clerk to Broadwoodkelly Parish Council CHAGFORD PARISH COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN: Mrs Gay Hill

e-mail:

Dear Sir, 15/05/2014

Re: Local Government Review of West Devon Borough Council

The Chagford Parish Council was very pleased to receive the Consultation Document with regard to the Boundary Review of the wards in West Devon Borough Council.

It goes without saying that your recommendation that Chagford remains as a single ward has pleased the Parish, as in rural areas it is very difficult at times to work across parish Boundaries when parishes look in differing directions for their services.

The Chagford Parish Council fully support your recommendations for Chagford, Drewsteignton and the South Tawton Wards.

Yours faithfully

Gay Hill

Chairman of the Parish Council

Iddesleigh Parish Council

Iddesleigh Parish Council wants to make it quite clear that they wish to remain within Exbourne Ward and not be put in with North Tawton for the following reasons:

You state that you believe each local authority/Parish should be considered individually and not compared to others of a similar size. We have 169 voters who will be under represented if they were amalgamated with North Tawton. Our small but clear voice would be almost totally lost in North Tawton. North Tawton is a town with no connection to Iddesleigh. We are a very rural community and within Exbourne Ward we have an identity and working relationship with Broadwoodkelly, Monkokehampton, Exbourne and Jacobstowe.

You say community identity could be defined by location of public facilities, doctors, hospitals, libraries or schools: We have no such facilities in our parish. We use Chulmleigh, Okehampton, and Hatherleigh surgeries, Exeter, Okehampton and Barnstaple hospitals; have a library van and the children attend Winkleigh Primary and Chulmleigh Community College. We have no identification with North Tawton in these areas.

You say that communities change over time and historical considerations may not have any importance. Really! We do have a tiny movement of families but they mostly stay or return to the parish. We have many old families with their roots going back through many generations. Our history is important to us and we now have the worldwide advertising of our valley through War Horse. North Tawton never has shown any interest in our heritage or our community.

You say you take into consideration recorded community interactions and collective engagements. Iddesleigh Parish Council has always worked closely with Broadwoodkelly and Monkokehampton Parish Councils. We share the same ethos and have a strong alliance. Recently the three parishes have successfully collaborated over the purchase of a salt spreader and also received a collective grant with Exbourne from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. Iddesleigh, Monkokehampton, Broadwoodkelly, Exbourne and Jacobstowe have also collaborated together and received another grant from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. We respect and understand one another.

You say you understand that people have strongly held views about their communities. We in Iddesleigh do. We have an historic identity within our Parish as well as holding close links with Monkokehampton and Broadwoodkelly. We are a rural community and as such many farmers hold land in the adjoining parishes. We share a rural landscape and agricultural ties with Exbourne. We know this would be under threat from a move to a ward dominated by a town who have little experience/knowledge of our rural retreat. This is a natural area which does not lean towards North Tawton; location wise, physically or naturally.

You say you take into consideration the representational role of councillors in the local community and how they engage with people and represent the council on local parish councils. You also talk about the work of Borough Councillors. Our Exbourne Ward Borough Councillor constantly supports Iddesleigh Parish. He has attended every Parish Council meeting since his election. He keeps the Parish up to date with what West Devon are doing. He listens to us and takes our concerns on-board. He backs our community as was shown recently with the planning applications for two wind turbines; which directly affect our Parish. We received support from many local parishes but NOT North Tawton. They have shown no concern for the Parish over the years and not even supported us with this contentious issue. They have shown no understanding of our really rural parish.

Iddesleigh Parish Council wants to reiterate that they publicly represent the Parish and the views of the Parishioners. Mrs S Whitcher, Parish Clerk to Iddesleigh Parish Council Fuller, Heather

Subject: FW: Boundary Review West Devon

From: Clerk at Lydford Parish Council Sent: 09 July 2014 11:34 To: Reviews@ Subject: Boundary Review West Devon

Dear Sir/Madam

Lydford Parish Council consider that the proposed Dartmoor Ward is too larger an area to be covered by two Borough Councillors.

Thank you

Lucie Luke Parish Clerk

Monkokehampton Parish Council

Monkokehampton Parish Council wants to make it quite clear that they wish to remain within Exbourne Ward for the following reasons:

You state that you believe each local authority/Parish should be considered individually and not compared to others of a similar size. We have 109 voters who will be under represented if they were amalgamated with North Tawton. Our small but clear voice would be almost totally lost in North Tawton. Within Exbourne Ward we have an identity and working relationship with Broadwoodkelly, Iddesleigh, Exbourne and Jacobstowe.

You say you take into consideration recorded community interactions and collective engagements. Monkokehampton Parish Council has always worked closely with Broadwoodkelly and Iddesleigh Parish Councils. We share the same ethos and have a strong alliance. Recently the three parishes have successfully collaborated over the purchase of a salt spreader and also received a collective grant with Exbourne from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. Monkokehampton, Iddesleigh, Broadwoodkelly, Exbourne and Jacobstowe have also collaborated together and received another grant from the Devon County Council TAP Fund. We respect and understand one another.

You say you understand that people have strongly held views about their communities. We in Monkokehampton do. We have an historic identity within our Parish as well as holding close links with Iddesleigh and Broadwoodkelly. We are a rural community and as such many farmers hold land in the adjoining parishes. We share a rural landscape and agricultural ties with Exbourne. We know this would be under threat from a move to a ward dominated by a town who have little experience/knowledge of our rural retreat. This is a natural area which does not lean towards North Tawton; location wise, physically or naturally.

You say you take into consideration the representational role of councillors in the local community and how they engage with people and represent the council on local parish councils. You also talk about the work of Borough Councillors. Our Exbourne Ward Borough Councillor constantly supports Monkokehampton Parish. He has attended every Parish Council meeting since his election. He keeps the Parish up to date with what West Devon are doing. He listens to us and takes our concerns on- board. North Tawton has shown no concern for the Parish over the years and has shown no understanding of our really rural parish. Monkokehampton will just become a small fish in a big ocean.

Monkokehampton Parish Council wants to reiterate that they publicly represent the Parish and the views of the Parishioners. Mrs S Whitcher, Parish Clerk to Monkokehampton Parish Council A response to the draft recommendations for the proposed new electoral arrangements for WDBC

North Tawton Town Council would like to respond to these draft recommendations by putting the case for the existing North Tawton Ward to remain a single member unit of West Devon Borough Council.

The essence of our position is that our town has long been a quite different settlement from the surrounding largely agricultural villages and hamlets with which it has been suggested we should be amalgamated. North Tawton is a small town of around 1500 electors. Its economy is predominantly industrial. It has road links with the main regional lorry routes and the A30, rather than with the lanes connecting the surrounding villages in your proposed new ward of Exbourne. North Tawton is a tight knit community both in terms of its geography and social make up, having a character very much distinct from that of the surrounding area.

There is a vibrant community which takes a keen interest in how the town is likely to develop in the future. To enable it to have a greater control over its development residents are currently well into the process of producing a neighbourhood plan under the Localism Act 2012. The Town Council owns its modern council office and is responsible for the town car parks, the Memorial Park, newly rebuilt public toilets and the town’s Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard.

Some 80% of the residents live within one and a half miles of the town centre which supports a good range of shops and businesses, including a cafe/restaurant, a pharmacy, a butchers, A large veterinary practice, four public houses, two take-away food outlets, two hairdressers, two garages, two dentists, a thriving post office, a bank, a fire station and a medical practice, a Town Hall, a primary school, the parish Church of St Peter, and two chapels. There are moreover, some thirty five community groups. The town has an excellent bus service to Exeter, Barnstaple, Okehampton. Hatherleigh and Crediton. We believe that it is clear, that as a settlement, North Tawton is a local centre - a town, rather than a large village.

The nature of our community as an urban settlement arguably stems from its history as a very old market town. It gained market charters c1270 and in 1374. Although these markets have long been surpassed by more modern means of economic activity, the town remains a local centre for employment, hosting three of the largest employers in West Devon. These are: ‘Arla’, the international company that own the Taw Valley Creamery, ‘Gregory Distribution’, a family owned haulage company whose HGVs are seen on roads throughout the UK and ‘Vital Pet Products’, a major wholesale distribution company that trades across the country. In addition there are also a number of smaller commercial - non retail -concerns. Together these organisations impart to the town a particularly industrial/commercial character that really is very different from the small agricultural and retirement villages that surround it.

With a current electoral role in the present Ward of North Tawton (with Bondleigh) of 1621 and with no planning allocation having been made for the future development of the town, it is hard to see how there could possibly be a ‘high level of electoral inequality’ by 2019. If the agricultural hamlet of Bondleigh, with its electorate of 115 were to be disconnected from the town and added to Exbourne, the latter would then have 1546 electors at present, compared with North Tawton’s 1485 - approximately the average number of electors per councillor within the Borough Council area. If kept as single Councillor Wards, such an arrangement would produce two adjacent and very different democratic units, each represented in a manner that would enable the Councillors to focus their representation properly on the specific needs of their separate and very different wards.

Cllr Nick Morgan, our Ward member for North Tawton at West Devon Borough Council, fully supports this response to the draft proposals.

18th July 2014 Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal Page 1 of 1

West Devon District

Personal Details:

Name: Ian Macleod

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: North Tawton Town Council

Comment text:

I feel it is VERY insensitive to rename our Ward "Exbourne " when this is just ONE of the VILLAGE areas ---North Tawton is a far larger TOWN !! So pls choose a more generic/neutral Ward name eg "TAW Valley"-???

Uploaded Documents:

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https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/print/informed-representation/3395 27/05/2014 Fuller, Heather

From: Fuller, Heather Sent: 16 May 2014 08:59 To: Ward, Lucy; Subject: FW: Electoral Review of West Devon

Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Completed

From: Lucie Luke Sent: 15 May 2014 15:12 To: Reviews@ Subject: Electoral Review of West Devon

Dear Sir/Madam

Peter Tavy Parish Council is most concerned with the proposals, which do not consider the vast area involved for now some 1/2 Borough Councillors to cover. Planning consultation will now be divided between advice and policy from West Devon and Dartmoor National Park ‐ it should be one or the other. Under the Freedom of Information Act ‐ the Parish Council would like to know that cost of the Review of West Devon. We look forward to your response.

Lucie Luke Clerk to the Peter Tavy Parish Council

Parish Office:

1 Fuller, Heather

From: Fuller, Heather Sent: 21 July 2014 13:17 To: Ward, Lucy Subject: FW: West Devon Boundary review

Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged

From: Melanie Leonard Sent: 19 July 2014 12:22 To: Reviews@ Cc: Subject: West Devon Boundary review

The Review Officer (West Devon)

Sourton Parish Council welcomes the amendment that now keeps Sourton and Bridestowe in the same ward, as the two parishes have many links. However, the Parish Council still has concerns about the current proposals which are:

 The ward is geographically too large. Candidates for the district council will find it impossible to canvas the whole area during elections and so the electorate will be further removed from the electoral process, having had no personal contact with the candidates, or knowledge of who they are. People will be discouraged for standing for election in such a large area, parts of which they may not be familiar with.  People from Brentor, Lewtrenchard, Thrushelton and Marystowe tend towards Tavistock and Plymouth for work, school, shops, leisure and medical facilities, while those from Bridestowe, Sourton, Germansweek and Bratton Clovelly tend to commute to Okehampton and Exeter for these.  There is no natural road link between these parishes.  There is no single parish council, or other group that represents the entire area.

Sourton Parish Council would like to see this proposed single ward made into two separate wards, one with Brentor, Lewtrenchard, Thrushelton and Marystowe and the other with Bridestowe, Sourton, Germansweek, Bratton Clovelly and Beaworthy. Each of these wards to have one single Member.

Yours Sincerely

Melanie Leonard Clerk to Sourton Parish Council Te