Unparished Areas
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www.southglos.gov.uk post consumer waste consumer post Printed on recycled paper minimum 75% 75% minimum paper recycled on Printed 8163.8.12 SGCCreativeDesign 01454 868009 01454 phone: or [email protected] email: please document this of versions Tell us what you think you what us Tell accessible or translations including information, additional any require your area. your or questions further any have you If of interests the represent to created Council Town or Parish a like would you using the freepost address address freepost the using (no stamp required). stamp (no BS35 1HF Bristol Thornbury Castle Street Council Offices Community Governance Review South Gloucestershire Council Freepost Plus RRZE-CTRG-TJLJ return the leaflet with your comments in an envelope envelope an in comments your with leaflet the return whether at look will review” governance please note if you require more room for comments comments for room more require you if note please * “community a called process, This 2012 November 12 by return Please views. your hear to wants and area, your address FREEPOST the using us to Write way decisions are made on local issues in in issues local on made are decisions way [email protected] Email: the of review a out carrying is council The www.southglos.gov.uk/cgr Complete a survey online at: at: online survey a Complete fold B fold tuck into flap of of flap into tuck BS35 1HF Bristol Thornbury Castle Street Council Offices Community Governance Review South Gloucestershire Council Freepost Plus RRZE-CTRG-TJLJ BS35 1HF Bristol Thornbury Castle Street Council Offices Community Governance Review South Gloucestershire Council Freepost Plus RRZE-CTRG-TJLJ C and then then and C Community Governance Review Governance Community BS35 1HF BS35 Fold along fold fold along Fold Bristol BS35 1HF BS35 Thornbury Bristol Areas Street Castle Thornbury Council Offices Council Castle Street Castle Community Governance Review Governance Community Council Offices Council South Gloucestershire Council Gloucestershire South Community Governance Review Governance Community Freepost Plus RRZE-CTRG-TJLJ Plus Freepost South Gloucestershire Council Gloucestershire South along fold B. fold along RRZE-CTRG-TJLJ Plus Freepost Fold B A, then fold fold then A, half along fold fold along half Unparished in leaflet Fold Fold C Ë FREEPOST it return and letter/leaflet ucestershire Council ucestershire Glo South this with enclosed survey the Complete on this important local issue. You can: You issue. local important this on There are several ways for you to tell us your views views your us tell to you for ways several are There Have your say your Have elections in May 2015. May in elections local the from effect take would amendments any supported, are changes If proposal. those on consultation further out carrying then KCA future community governance arrangements, and and arrangements, governance community future for proposals detailed out setting involve will this For office use only only use office For results. If parish or town councils are to be created, created, be to are councils town or parish If results. council will decide what to do next based on the the on based next do to what decide will council the consultation, this to receive we responses www.southglos.gov.uk/cgr When we have had an opportunity to consider all the the all consider to opportunity an had have we When What happens next? happens What Complete survey online at: at: online survey Complete Fold A Fold Why are we carrying out the review now? • Improvements to open spaces and verges Safer and Stronger Groups – Safer and The area where you live is currently unparished. • Local ‘watchdog’ on planning and other local Stronger Groups are made up of statutory The unparished area is made up of the South matters agencies who work together and engage with the local community to take action which ensures a Gloucestershire district wards of Kings Chase, safer and stronger local area. Rodway, Staple Hill and Woodstock. Arrangements in What about the costs? the unparished area were last reviewed over ten years Residents/Tenants Associations –They are Parish and Town Councils are funded through a ago. The current review provides a good opportunity independent from the council but may work with it charge added to your Council Tax. This is known as a to look again at arrangements in the unparished area. or other agencies such as Merlin Housing. They do precept. The amount of this is something that the not have powers to raise money through a precept. Parish or Town Council decides for itself and depends Who are we consulting? on what services and facilities it wants to provide. Regeneration partnerships – An umbrella group of representatives of community groups and local This leaflet is being sent to all the households in the South Gloucestershire Council provides some agencies set up to identify and meet the needs of unparished area to enable residents to have their services which benefit only certain areas and are the local area. They raise funds through grants. say. In addition to residents we are consulting South provided elsewhere by parish councils. The costs of Gloucestershire district councillors, local businesses, providing such services, called special expenses, are Community Groups and Associations – tenants and residents associations as well as local added to the amounts to be raised from the areas Community Groups and Associations are set up community groups and organisations. benefiting from these services. locally by members of a community. They do not have powers to raise money through a precept, Where you live in the unparished area, the average are often run by volunteers and may be set up as Band D Council Tax payer currently pays £1255.90 What is a Parish/Town Council? a charity. (2012/13 excluding Avon Fire Authority and Avon and • Parish councils are democratically elected Somerset Police Authority payments). representatives of a distinct local community What are the possibilities? In parished areas, amounts vary because of the • They focus on very local issues and concerns differences in the types of parish council activities and There are a number of possible outcomes of this services provided: review. They would fall into one or a mixture of the following broad categories: Why have a Parish/Town Council? • residents in 11 parishes pay less than the • An important focus for local community identity unparished area 1 One new parish or town council created for the area (as shown on the attached map) • An additional local voice for the needs of the area • in 20 parishes they pay up to £30 a year more This would mean that a new parish or town council • An opportunity for local people to be involved in • in 7 parishes they pay up to £60 a year more is created to represent the interests of residents for their community on local issues • in 4 parishes they pay up to £90 a year more the whole area. • Provision of extra or improved local services, for • in the remaining 4 parishes they pay up to £154 2 Several parish or town councils created for the area example: a year more This would mean that two or more parish or town • Community and leisure facilities (eg community councils would be created to represent the halls, allotments) What already exists? interests of residents of the area. • Recreation and play facilities (eg parks, play Below the level of South Gloucestershire Council there 3 Join with existing neighbouring parishes areas, sports pitches) are currently a number of forms of community Residents in some parts of the area may decide • Facilities for young people and children (eg governance. These include: they would like to become part of a parish that holiday clubs) Area Forums (Area Committees) – They are neighbours the currently unparished area. • Community events and festivals made up of the councillors representing the local 4 No Change - Status Quo • Environmental improvements (eg flowers, litter area covered by the forum. They discuss local This would mean that no new parish or town bins, bus shelters) issues and seek solutions. They can decide local councils are created and the whole of the area grant applications and agree small scale traffic • Support/grants for local voluntary groups and would remain unparished. community representation on local bodies schemes. Unparished Area Community Governance Review Which of the following options do you prefer? We are committed to understanding the views ❑ Yes - Long standing illness or health condition, ❑ Live in an area served by a parish or town council of all of our residents, and the impact of the such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart proposals. Please provide your name and address ❑ No change, stay as we are now (unparished) disease or epilepsy below. Please note, this information will not be ❑ Yes - Other ❑ No preference used for any other purposes than the Community ❑ No ❑ Don’t know Governance Review consultation. ❑ Prefer not to say If you would like to live in an area served by a Full name: parish or town council, which of the following Address: Please tell us your ethnic origin options would you prefer? ❑ Arab ❑ One large parish/town council serving the whole ❑ Asian/Asian British - Bangladeshi area ❑ Asian/Asian British - Chinese ❑ Two or more smaller parish or town councils serving parts of the area Postcode: ❑ Asian/Asian British - Indian ❑ Join with an existing neighbouring parish. ❑ Asian/Asian British - Other Please answer the following optional questions Which parish? ❑ Asian/Asian British - Pakistani about yourself. The information you supply will help us to analyse the results of this consultation and to ensure ❑ Black/African/Caribbean/Black British - African Please use this space for any further comments. that we understand the views of different people.