Community Governance Review Working Party - 22 February 2016, 6pm

22 February 2016

NOTICE AND AGENDA

For a meeting to be held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth, on Monday 22 February 2016 at 6pm.

Please note that this meeting will not run on past 8pm.

Members of the Working Party:-

Councillors:

Diana Barber        Rupert Barnes        Sarah Nelmes        Martin Trevett

Alison Wall

Steven Halls, Chief Executive

12 February 2016

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

To receive any declarations of interest.

3. NOTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8 FEBRUARY 2016

To agree the notes of the meeting held on 8 February 2016.

16 02 08 draft action notes

4. DISCUSSION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Questions from members of the public

The Working Party requests that members of the public give notice of questions in advance of the meeting by email:

helen.wailling@threerivers.gov.uk

or by phone to the Committee Team on 01923 776611.

In setting your questions, please have regard to the following points from the guidance on community governance reviews published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England:

  • A characteristic of a sustainable community is the desire to be well run with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership. This means: a) representative, accountable governance systems which both facilitate strategic, visionary leadership and enable inclusive, active and effective participation by individuals and organisations; and b) effective engagement with the community at neighbourhood level including capacity building to develop the community’s skills, knowledge and confidence.
  • Central to the concept of sustainable communities is community cohesion. The impact of community governance on cohesion is an issue to take into account when decisions about community governance arrangements are made.

Criteria for undertaking a community governance review:

Section 93 of the Local Government and Public Involvement and Health Act 2007 requires principal councils to ensure that community governance within the area under review will be:

• reflective of the identities and interests of the community

and

• effective and convenient.

When considering the criteria identified in the 2007 Act, principal councils should take into account a number of influential factors, including:

• the impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion and

• the size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish.