Parish and Town Council submissions to the Lancashire County Council electoral review

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1 Parish and Town Council submissions to the Lancashire County Council electoral review This PDF document contains submissions from Parish and Town Councils. Some versions of Adobe allow the viewer to move quickly between bookmarks.

6 LCC proposal also best reflects the strong community identity referred to above. Barnoldswick Town Council therefore strongly supports the proposal put forward by Lancashire County Council in respect of the county divisions in Pendle and hopes that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England will adopt them in its final recommendations. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me Regards Joanne Geldard Clerk to Barnoldswick Town Council 2

7 Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal Page 1 of 1 12/01/2016 Lancashire County Personal Details: Name: Jackie Smith Postcode: Organisation Name: Bickerstaffe Parish Council Comment text: As no major changes have been perceived to Bickerstaffe Parish by the Local Government Boundary Commission Review for Lancashire County Council, Bickerstaffe Parish Council has a "no comment" response to the draft proposals. Uploaded Documents: None Uploaded

8 Morrison, William From: Fuller, Heather Sent: 11 November :01 To: Morrison, William Subject: FW: Lancs Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Completed Original Message Sent: 11 November :33 To: reviews Subject: Lancs From Bowl;and Forest higher division parish council Dear Mr Morrison I write on behalf of the above parish council regarding the possible electoral boundary changes in Lancashire and specifically Ribble Valley. We have been told that RVBC are looking to have 5 councillors and 5 divisions which would mean splitting up the Bowland parishes. We would very much like to see the Bowland parishes of Slaidburn, Newton in Bowland, Bowland Forest higher division and Bowland Forest Lower Division remain together. The parishes join together on many issues and geographically have many similarities. Thank you very much Rachel Carr clerk 1

9 Dear Sir/Madam I apologise for the delay in sending you the following comments and hope that despite the consultation period ending on 11th January 2016 you will consider the following comments of Brindle and Hoghton Parish Councils regarding the proposals for the Chorley East Ward which comprises the Parishes of Brindle and Hoghton. The proposals envisage that the division will include Brindle, Hoghton, parts of Wheelton and Clayton Brook. Brindle and Hoghton Parish Councils consider that the parts of Clayton Brook incorporated in the proposals should be deleted as the natural boundary of the ward consists of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and M61 motorway. Thank you Tony Harkness Clerk 1

12 Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal Page 1 of 1 12/01/2016 Lancashire County Personal Details: Name: Stephen Schollick Postcode: Organisation Name: Earby Town Council Comment text: I write as Clerk to Earby Town Council: Earby Town Council wish to make the following comment, as passed at the meeting held on 04/01/2016. That this Council support the Boundary Commissions draft recommendations for Pendle as set out in the attached documents. Because it is far preferable to keep all the towns and villages in West Craven (Barnoldswick, Earby, Sough, Kelbrook, Salterforth and Bracewell and Brogden) who share local interests and identities together, by adding in other surrounding rural areas along the Lancashire/Yorkshire border to make a new two seat division, rather than to carve this area up; and that the outcome of this resolution be formally communicated to the Boundary Commission. Regards, Stephen Schollick Clerk to Earby Town Council Uploaded Documents: None Uploaded

13 Dear Mr Morrison Farington Parish Council have recently considered the draft recommendations for the Electoral Review of Lancashire. The Parish Council are not very happy with the proposals for the new County boundary for Farington as this includes the Moss Side area which has no link of affinity to the Farington area of the County. We would ask for this County division to remain the same as it currently is and we would not wish to see any changes. I hope that you can take these comments into account when reaching the final decision. Kind regards Sue -- Mrs Sue Whittam Clerk to Farington Parish Council 1

14 Sent: 05 January :22 To: reviews Subject: Foulridge Parish Council Foulridge Parish Council has the following comments regarding the proposed boundary review: 1. Recommend that the boundaries are kept the same as they are now. 2. Object to the amendments suggested by Lancashire County Council, which involves villages from Bracewell to Laneshawbridge. This would result in too many parishes to be effectively covered by one councillor and the service in Foulridge would suffer accordingly. Jane Killeen Foulridge Parish Council, Clerk. 1

16 Yours faithfully, Neil Read Chairman, Gressingham Parish Council. 2

17 HAMBLETON PARISH COUNCIL ELECTORAL REVIEW OF LANCASHIRE: DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS The draft recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Lancashire County Council were reviewed by Hambleton Parish Council at a meeting held on 8 th December The Parish Council would like to object to the proposals to include Hambleton with Thornton as a Division. Hambleton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Lancashire. It is situated on a coastal plain called the Fylde and is an area east of the River Wyre known locally as Over Wyre. Hambleton lies approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of its post town, Poulton le Fylde, and about 7 miles (11 km) north-east of the seaside resort of Blackpool. Hambleton has a proactive Parish Council of seven members who are a vital part of the Community. Thornton is an urban area in the Fylde, about 4 miles (6 km) north of Blackpool and 2 miles (3 km) south of Fleetwood and is unparished. Hambleton Parish Council has considered the three main factors in conducting an electoral review and would like to respond as follows: A. Objective: To deliver electoral equality where each county councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the county. The Commission acknowledges that the reality of achieving electoral equality is unlikely, but the current proposals are a significant distance away from achieving a level of fairness that is acceptable especially in the instance of combining Hambleton that is a rural area with a register of electors of just over 2200 compared with Thornton that is essentially an urban area with over 7700 electorates. In this instance the rural area will be disadvantaged and the Parish Council feel that the interests of the residents of Hambleton will not be fairly represented within this new division. B. Objective: That the pattern of divisions should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities. The current recommendations do not reflect the differing interests and identities of the two areas. As stated above, Hambleton is a rural area that does not have a tangible village centre and only a hand-full of shops, 1 school and 2 pubs. Thornton is essentially an urban area that has at least four primary schools, an art college, a shopping centre with major supermarket presence, a small library and a theatre. The majority of Hambleton residents will shop in the post town of Poulton le Fylde. It is hoped that the Commission can understand from the above information that Hambleton and Thornton are 2 very different communities with very little in common and that a division created from these two areas would be detrimental to the residents of Hambleton.

18 The transport links across the proposed division are very poor with only one bus service operating every 1.5 hours and every 2 hours on Sundays. It would be extremely difficult for ward surgeries to be organised in a venue that would be accessible to all residents. The road network does not easily link the proposed areas as there is no direct road link. C. Objective: That the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government. The proposed division will not in the opinion of Hambleton Councillors provide for effective and convenient local government as the two areas are separated by the River Wyre and residents will need to travel through the Borough of Fylde to access the boundary of Thornton. Hambleton Parish Council would like to propose that Thornton is removed from the proposed Thornton/Hambleton division and placed in the Cleveleys South & Carleton division where you have already indicated that a split of Thornton between two divisions does not provide for effective and convenient local government. Also the draft recommendations show that the Cleveleys South & Carleton division has a variance of -8% from the average number of electors per Councillor. It would be beneficial for Hambleton and the other Over Wyre communities to form a separate Wyre division as: 1) The Over Wyre villages of Preesall, Stalmine-with-Staynall, Pilling and Out- Rawcliffe share a long history and similar problems from access to health services, local transport services, shortages of places at local schools to broadband speeds. 2) The rural Over Wyre villages have active communities with similar organisations Best Kept Village Committees, Women s Institute, Village Halls, Coffee Clubs, Parish Councils and have far more in common with these villages than they do with Thornton. 3) The Borough Councillors for Hambleton also represent other Over Wyre areas and would thus maintain continuity. 4) The Commission stresses the importance of using, wherever possible, strong, clearly identifiable barriers as boundaries to divisions so that communities are defined. The Parish Council would like to suggest that the River Wyre forms the SW edge of the Rural Central electoral division to maintain a strong, natural boundary that would more closely align similar communities. 5) Provide effective and convenient local government and electoral equality. 6) The proposed Divisions may create numerical electoral equality, but does not reflect effective community links. 7) All of the five church parishes for the Over Wyre Area are joined together under one ministry team again reflecting the rural nature of the area.

21 Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal Page 1 of 1 02/12/2015 Lancashire County Personal Details: Name: HUTTON PARISH COUNCIL HUTTON PARISH COUNCIL Postcode: Organisation Name: HUTTON PARISH COUNCIL Comment text: Hutton Parish Council object to the proposals due to the fact that Hutton Parish Council would be split between two County Cllr which will cause confusion and is not considered necessary. Uploaded Documents: None Uploaded

22 From: Kirkham Town Council Sent: 05 December :20 Subject: Kirkham Town Council comments on Kirkham Town Council would like to make the following comment on the proposed boundary changes.

23 Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal Page 1 of 1 10/12/2015 Lancashire County Personal Details: Name: Kirkham Town Council Postcode: Organisation Name: Kirkham Town Council Comment text: Kirkham Town Council continue to object to the division of the Parishes of Newton and Clifton. Historically the two parishes have worked together sharing resources and facilities such as schools and churches and should continue to do so. Uploaded Documents: None Uploaded

27 PARISH COUNCIL OF NEWTON-WITH-CLIFTON F. K. Wilson AIA Clerk to the Council 7th January 2016 Review Officer (Lancashire) Local Government Boundary Commission for England 14th Floor Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QP Dear Mr. Morrison, Electoral review of Lancashire County Council (LCC) Thank you for the 17th November and related attachments regarding the above matter which were considered at a meeting held on Thursday 3rd December Following discussion Council noted the detailed information that had been provided together with its communications with LCC and adopted a resolution that representations should again be made to intensely support the status quo in respect of the boundaries affecting Newton and Clifton parish. Council recognised that the proposed adjustments to ward boundaries are designed to help reduce differences between the number of electors in each ward in the area and is based on the principle that every elector s vote should have the same influence in an election. However, members fervently remain of the opinion that a community identity is what matters to local people more than any other representation consideration. Consequently the proposal is absolutely converse to criteria applicable in electoral reviews i.e. to reflect the interests and identities of local communities and to maintain local ties. The changes proposed for Clifton Village would transfer those parishioners from the Fylde East to Fylde South and is perceived as a response to the significant new house building that has been permitted over a number of years. However, parishioners perceive Clifton Village as a place with a distinct rural identity that is very important to them and this should supersede any concerns over the rising population when compared to other wards. It is recognised that the proposal would not lead to changes in parishioners addresses and postcodes, property values, or the boundaries for schools admissions that their children can attend, but the proposal cuts across the boundaries of Newton-with-Clifton as a whole where many residents have a strongly felt sense of identity as part of the parish with defined boundaries that have prevailed for many decades. Therefore, reaffirming its initial representation Council considers there is sufficient evidence to merit the commission s review of its proposals. Newton-with-Clifton Parish is a constituent part of the Fylde area where there are six divisions. Of the six, Fylde South is projected to be -11% by 2021 and Fylde East is projected to be +10%. These two divisions border each other. As a key point it is understood that the LCC Political Governance Working Group on electoral divisions across Lancashire recommended the status quo option as proposed by its Independent Group (described as proposal 1) with a second preference for officer option A (described as proposal 2). 1 (of 3) contd...

28 contd Although it results in one division being just outside the 10% parameter, LCC s preference agreed at its Council meeting is for the status quo option. This is because the officer alternative involves splitting Newton with Clifton parish, which has a strong community identity and the three settlements of the parish share key community resources, including a primary school and village hall. Newton with Clifton Parish comprises two wards: - Newton with Scales Ward 7 seats Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick Ward 4 seats. At present the parish has one County Councillor who attends Parish Council meetings and liaises with LCC on its behalf. If the parish is split and each ward had its own County Councillor it would be detrimental to community governance, be administratively cumbersome and make it very difficult for the Parish Council to operate efficiently. Historically the area of Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick, known as Lund share inter alia; i) Primary School - Newton Bluecoat School. ii) Newton-with-Clifton Village Hall (which was founded and built in the 1950 s) by residents of both Newton-with-Scales and Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. iii) The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist (Lund). This Church is located in Clifton but is the Parish church of Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. iv) The Church burial ground is the burial area for the whole Parish. v) Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick Field Day is celebrated annually in July mainly in the village of Newton-with-Scales with the field activities and refreshments etc taking part in Newton Bluecoat School, Newton with Scales. vi) Civic Sunday is held following the Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick Field Day at St John the Evangelist (Lund) church, Clifton followed by a Parish Band Concert and refreshments etc at the Newton-with-Clifton Village Hall. vii) Various uniformed organisations; Scout Groups, Cubs and Beavers meet in Newton-with- Clifton Village Hall. Their respective members comprise of children resident in Newton-with- Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. Guides, Brownies and Rainbows meet in Lund Church Hall, Clifton. Their respective members comprise of children resident in Newton-with- Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. viii) Lund Over 60 s meet weekly in Newton with Clifton Village Hall. Their respective members comprise of resident in Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. ix) Lund Pre-School use the Newton-with-Clifton Village Hall on a daily basis. Once again this is used by children resident in Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick. x) Lund Little Lambs for babes in arms to Pre School meet weekly at Lund Church Hall, Clifton. The organiser is a resident of the hamlet of Salwick. xi) The Women s Institute meet monthly in the Newton-with-Clifton Village Hall, again membership is primarily from the three settlements and surrounding areas. xii) Lund Mothers Union meet monthly in Lund Church Hall, Clifton (membership from all three settlement areas). xiii) The medical needs of the three communities of Newton-with-Scales, Clifton and the hamlet of Salwick are served by the two doctors practices in Kirkham. Freckleton has its own medical practice. Any National Health Service issues that arise, which require to be dealt with at County level, require parishioner representation by a County Councillor from the same area. The parish is a cohesive and economically vibrant local community encouraging local people to participate in neighbourhood democracy and have a say in the way their communities are managed and developed. It is important to acknowledge how people perceive where they live and this is significant in considering the identities and interests of local communities that are essentially rural in nature compared to the larger urban areas that share contiguous boundaries. 2 (of 3) contd...

32 Stalmine with Staynall Parish Council considered the draft recommendations for Thornton and Hambleton and Wyre Rural Central and would ask you to reconsider placing Stalmine and Staynall in the proposed Thornton and Hambleton division. The communities in this part of Wyre are know collectively as "Over Wyre" and the area is a clearly identifiable community of interest. Councillors feel strongly that this small rural parish should not be placed in a division which will be dominated by a relatively large urban area such as Thornton. They fear that any future representative will either come from the urban area and have little, if any, knowledge of the particular issues facing rural communities or vice versa. The parish council recognises the principal of balancing numbers but feels that communities of interest should take precedence over numbers. To that end, they believe that it would make more sense to take Great Eccleston and Inskip out of Wyre Rural Central and put Stalmine and Staynall into that proposed division. Jan Finch Clerk to Stalmine with Staynall Parish Council 1

33 Dear Sirs St. Anne s Town Council has the following comments to make on the above review; There are concerns at splitting the Parish Council of Newton with Clifton Fylde East. It will divide the Parish community and may split existing harmony within this area. Rural Parish areas are more increasingly becoming community hubs, where groups and individuals can meet and work together for the greater good. This decision will lead to a lack of cohesion and will disenfranchises many. Regards Mrs Sally Taylor MBA DMS CiLCA Town Clerk Saint Anne's on The Sea Town Council 1

35 Mr W Morrison Review Officer Local Government Boundary commission for England 14 Floor Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QP 8 January 2016 Dear Mr Morrison RE: Electoral Review of Lancashire: Draft Recommendations Wheelton Parish Council considered the draft recommendations on the electoral review of Lancashire and have the following comments to make: The area of Clayton is a "new" developed town/village whereas Wheelton and Higher Wheelton are old rural Mill Villages and don't share interests and identities of the local communities, the areas do not therefore share any of the cultural or historical links The area of Clayton is very different socially and economically to the demographic of the areas of Wheelton and Higher Wheelton Wheelton do not accept the number game that randomly includes us in with Clayton and feels that they are far more akin to areas such as Brindle, Hoghton, Brinscall and Withnell. An area the size of Clayton would draw all the resources to it to the detriment of rural communities. The current electoral arrangements already provide for effective and convenient local government and changes would only be detrimental to the excellent working relationship between the current County Councillor and Borough Councillors that serve Wheelton and Higher Wheelton. Yours sincerely Joanne Joanne Carr (Mrs) Clerk to Wheelton Parish Council 1

Local Residents submissions to the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council electoral review

Local Residents submissions to the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council electoral review This PDF document contains submissions from Local Residents. Some versions of Adobe allow the viewer to move quickly