Community Governance Review

Why are you writing to me? How are these things paid for? East Council has received a Town and Parish Councils are funded through a petition signed by over 3500 of the electorate in the precept – a charge which is added to and collected urban area of Crewe asking that a Town Council be as part of your Council Tax. set up. The attached map shows the area affected. The amount of charge is something that each This area has a population of almost 50,000 people. council has to decide for itself and depends on By law, Borough Council must what services and facilities it wants to provide. The now carry out what is known as a Community following table gives some examples of precepts Governance Review. The aim of this review is to look (the charge shown is for Band D properties per at the most suitable arrangements for representing annum) for some Councils for towns with which you the people of the Crewe area and to decide whether may be familiar. These figures are for illustration a Town Council would be the best means of only as there are no means of estimating the services which any future council will choose to • representing the interests and identities of local provide. people, and • providing a range of local government services Town Population Precept (approx) The Council, once we receive your views will 25750 £57.72 consider the results of the consultation exercise and Middlewich 13390 £54.69 will publish a set of proposals in the Autumn which Nantwich 13880 £20.78 will include detailed warding arrangements and the Northwich 20900 £72.22 number of councillors to be elected for the area. Shrewsbury 70000 £32.81 Whitchurch 8900 £111.91 Winsford 30700 £34.17 What does a Town Council do? Wistaston 8250 £14.13 Town Councils (also known as Parish or Community Great Boughton 8500 £14.98 Councils) are democratically elected bodies that Frodsham 9250 £31.92 have statutory powers which include the provision Matlock 9500 £68.57 of allotments, bus shelters, support for local crime Barnoldswick 10900 £26.80 prevention initiatives, local highway matters such as Bridgnorth 11750 £128.63 street lighting and maintenance of roadside verges. Alsager 12500 £42.39 They are also often involved in the provision and Wooton Bassett 12500 £190.73 maintenance of community transport schemes, Stroud 12700 £86.66 sport and recreation facilities and tourism. They Knutsford 12750 £12.05 provide a focus for representing local issues and (The population for the area of Crewe that is being identity. considered is about 50,000).

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Aug 09/2 Why have a Town Council? How many Town councillors would Local councils such as Town and Parish Councils there be? have the ability to respond to particular local needs One of the issues that the review will consider if a Town and deliver solutions in response. A Town or Parish or Parish Council is set up is how many councillors Council can be seen to represent the immediate should be elected. Councillors can be elected to community that is serves and give more local represent the whole of the area under review or it can control over the quality of the local environment be subdivided (into what is known as ‘wards’) where based on a closer familiarity with local priorities and they have a particular responsibility for a smaller area requirements. They also give a voice to represent and its population. For example, a councillor could local circumstances, identity and interests. represent the whole of the area of Crewe or the area Currently Charter Trustees elect a Mayor for Crewe. If could be subdivided into say, four wards and the one or more Parish Councils are created, one would people who live in each of those wards would be be designated by Cheshire East Council to look after represented by specific councillors for their area. the responsibilities of the Charter Trustees, including There are a number of options to consider which may the Mayor. The Charter Trustees would be abolished be seen as alternatives to having a single Town Council and the precept for the Crewe Charter Trustees to represent the identity and interests of local people. would cease. However, any new parish precepts would need to reflect the transferred responsibilities.

The outer boundary (red) depicts the area which would be covered by a single Town Council for Crewe. The inner boundaries (blue) are a representation of what four parish councils for Crewe could look like. These boundaries are indicative at this stage, but are drawn along the proposed Cheshire East Council Ward boundaries in the Council’s recent submission to the Boundary Committee. Are there other alternatives to a single Town Council for Crewe? Some of the options are outlined below: provides opportunities for local people to influence More than one Council or make decisions at a local level. There is no power There is no set population size for a Town or Parish to raise funds by precept. Council as you can see from the Table mentioned Tenant Management/Residents & Tenants above. The area of Crewe under review has a Associations population of about 50,000 people. It may be Organised at the level of estates and focused largely considered desirable to have more than one Council on issues affecting those particular areas. Particular to better reflect the diversity of communities and emphasis is usually on housing related issues. No interests within the area. Each of the councils would power to raise funds. have a power to raise money by precept. The map Area/community/neighbourhood forums on the opposite page depicts how four parish Established as a means of giving communities a say councils could be created for the Crewe area. on local authority matters or local issues. The focus Area committees is on influencing decision making and membership Cheshire East Borough Council could set up groups consists of people living or working in the area. No of Councillors to oversee the management of service power to raise funds. delivery and address local issues on a number of Community Associations smaller geographic areas. There would be no power Set up locally by members of the community. They to raise funds by precept but any costs would most provide a democratically elected approach for local likely be raised from the Council Tax. residents and community organisations to work Neighbourhood Management together for the benefit of the neighbourhood. They Parts of Crewe are covered by a multi-agency team sometimes include local authority representatives of Neighbourhood Managers whose aim is to on the management committee as a means of improve the delivery of public services in particular influencing the delivery of services and decision neighbourhoods. It engages with local communities making that affects the area. No power to raise through a neighbourhood action programme which funds. identifies local needs, looks at possible solutions and Questionnaire Bearing in mind the information in this leaflet we would like to know what you think. 1. Which arrangement do you think 3. (a) If you think that Option b, ‘more than one would be most appropriate for Crewe? local council’, would be the best alternative, a) A single town council do you you think that four parish councils would be the best option? b) More than one local council Yes No c) Area committees 3. (b) If not, how many parish councils do you feel d) Neighbourhood Management would be most appropriate? e) Tenant Management/Residents & Tenants Associations 3. (c) If you think that Option b – ‘more than one f) Area/community/neighbourhood local council’ - would be the best alternative, forums do you think that it would be better for g) Community Associations councillors for each of the councils to h) None of the above (please state if a) Represent the people for the whole of each of you feel there is any other option) the areas (unwarded)? b) Represent the people of part of the each of the i) No opinion areas (warded)? 2. If you think that Option a) – a single If you want to make any further comments town council - would be the best regarding this review please do not hesitate to alternative, do you think that it would contact Cheshire East Borough Council. Contact be better for councillors to details are included overleaf. a) Represent the people for the whole of the area (unwarded)? Thank you for you participation. b) Represent the people of part of the area (warded)? Please complete and return this questionnaire by 30th September 2009. Further information Further, more detailed, information can be obtained from the following: Cheshire East Borough Council website – www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Free access to an internet-enabled computer can be found at the Access Shop, Earle Street, Crewe or at Crewe Library. Your comments and views on what is the best option for Crewe are vital to this review. You can let us have them either in writing to Election and Registration Team Manager, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 1HZ or by email to [email protected]. We would also value your responses to some questions about the best option for Crewe.