Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

-        Councillor R Chesterton

-        Councillor B Deed

-        Councillor R Radford

To receive any items relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public present.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations where appropriate.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as an accurate record of the meeting held on 1^st November 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 November were agreed as a true record and duly SIGNED by the Chairman.

Report from the Director of Business Improvement and Operations.

The Committee had before it a report of the Returning Officer / Director of Business Improvement and Operations providing Members with an opportunity to review submissions from the second public consultation and to make final recommendations Electoral Review Committee to full Council for changes to parish boundaries and the numbers of parish councillors in each parish council.

The Consultant resumed their presentation from the meeting that had taken place on the 1 November, which discussed the number of parish councillor as set out in appendix 2 of the report.

Parish Council Numbers

Sandford Parish Council –

The Consultant summarised that comments had asked for the number of councillors to be reduced. It was noted that there were just under 1000 electors for that area, to which the Consultant suggested that 12 Parish Councillors was quite a high number. However, he also noted that Parish Councils such as Cadbury had 10 Parish Councillors for 796 electors and that part of Uffculme had 11 Parish Councillors with nearly 2,000 electors.

The Chair thanked the consultant for their presentation and opened the floor to the Committee, where the following was considered:

·         Sandford was one of the biggest Parish Councils geographically.

·         That this number of Councillors might be needed so that workload is covered.

·         The housing development at Peddlarspool needed to be considered.

It was AGREED that the number of Parish Councillors remain as set out in appendix 2 (which included amendments from the 1 November 2022 meeting) subject to the following additional amendments:

·         Sandford Parish Council remained at 12 Parish Councillors.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Hittisleigh – Submission 33

The Consultant explained that Hittisleigh had asked to take over an area towards the northern edge of their boundary from Colebrooke so that it followed the road as well as land transferred from Credition Hamlets so that the parish border followed the river Yeo. In addition, there was land towards the southeast that was proposed to be transferred from Cheriton Bishop to Hittisleigh, so that the proposed boundary followed the river Yeo.

The Chair opened the floor to Members for comments which were as follows:

·         Crediton Hamlets Parish Council were happy with the boundary change and that the land transferred from Colebrooke to Hittisliegh only included Road Down Farm and a bungalow, so would not lose much in terms of council tax.

·         Concern was raised over not hearing from Colebrooke Parish Council on this matter, however, Colebrooke Parish Council would have been sent these proposals.

·         This would follow the natural boundary of the road.

The Consultant was invited to speak on the proposed transfer of The Orchard from Hittisleigh to Cheriton Bishop.. It was highlighted that The Orchard property and West Ford Farm shared the same postcode. However, the later was in Hittisleigh. In addition, this change would mean that the road would be used as the boundary as opposed the river. This ensured that The Orchard moved to Cheriton Bishop Parish Council.

It was AGREED that the boundary changes proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.