Community Governance Review - recommendation agreed

This is part of the Community Governance Review, which began in November 2019. The recommendations were agreed at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on 9 September. 

Earlier this year Wiltshire Council's Electoral Review Committee carried out a public survey in relation to the areas included within the review. More than 500 responses were received and following analysis of the feedback; as well as information received from emails; public meetings and information gathering sessions; the committee formed and put forward the draft recommendations. Following a further consultation which received more than 200 responses, which were analysed and considered by the committee, final recommendations were prepared for consideration by Full Council.

The changes to electoral arrangements for some parishes, as a result of the Community Governance Review, will come into effect at the next scheduled ordinary parish council elections in May 2021.

The agenda and minutes (opens new window) of the meeting can be viewed. 

The council will now be consulting on proposals for new Area Board boundaries, to align these with the Electoral Divisions that are incoming for the May 2021 elections. The consultation (opens new window) begins on 10 September 2020 until 31 October 2020. 

The Electoral Review Committee will review all responses to the consultation and prepare final recommendations for consideration by Full Council when it meets on 24 November.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Chair of the Electoral Review Committee, said: This has been a very complex process and a huge logistical challenge. We know that not everyone will be pleased with the outcome and we are completely understanding and sympathetic to any of those sentiments. We met and consulted with so many people and every proposal put forward has been done so with the best of intentions. We have made a concerted effort to ensure local governance is as effective and convenient as it can be, and that it reflects the identity and interests of local communities.

The next stage is to look at the Area Board boundary alignments and I encourage everyone to look at those proposals and have their say. 

Finally, I'd like to thank the team behind the scenes for getting us to this point. Their hard work and organisation has kept this process fully on track throughout and that of course has been made even more complicated by the pandemic.

More information will be available on our Community Governance Reviews pages.

The recommendations agreed are as follows:

Recommendation 1

1.1    That the area of the Netherhampton East Ward be transferred to the parish of Salisbury City as part of the Salisbury Harnham West Ward.

1.2    That the Salisbury Harnham West Ward be increased from two city councillors to three.
1.3    That the total number of councillors for Salisbury City Council be increased from 23 to 24.

1.4    That the parish of Netherhampton be comprised of five councillors, without wards.

Reasons: Paragraphs 73, 78, 80, 83, 84, 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews
In order for these changes to take effect the Local Government Boundary Commission for England would need to provide consent.

Recommendation 2

2.1 To merge the Salisbury City wards of Salisbury Milford and Salisbury St Mark's and Bishopdown into a single ward of three councillors, coterminous with the Salisbury Milford Electoral Division. The city ward would also be called Salisbury Milford.
Reason: Paragraph 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews

In order for this change to take effect the Local Government Boundary Commission for England would need to provide consent.

Recommendation 3

3.1    That the area of the Barrow Farm Ward of Langley Burrell Without be transferred to Chippenham Town Council and merged with the Chippenham Hardenhuish Ward, to continue to contain three town councillors.

3.2    That the area of the Rawlings Farm Ward of Langley Burrell Without be transferred to Chippenham Town Council and merged with the Chippenham Monkton Ward, to continue to contain three town councillors.
 
3.3    That the area of the Showell Ward of Lacock be transferred to Chippenham Town Council and merged with the Chippenham Lowden and Rowden Ward, to continue to contain three town councillors.

3.4    That Lacock Parish Council be comprised of eleven councillors, without warding arrangements.

3.5    That Langley Burrell Without Parish Council be comprised of five councillors, without warding arrangements. Reasons: Paragraphs 73, 78, 80, 83, 84, 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews
In order for these changes to take effect the Local Government Boundary Commission for England would need to provide consent.

Recommendation 4

4.1 That the area including Cedar Lodge, Allington, shown in the report be transferred from Kington St Michael to Chippenham Without.
Reason: Paragraph 84 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews

Recommendation 5

5.1 That the area shown in the report be transferred from the parish of Manningford to the parish of Woodborough. 
Reason: Paragraph 84 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews

Recommendation 6

6.1 That the parish of Pewsey be represented by a parish council comprising 21 parish councillors, without warding arrangements.
Reasons: Paragraphs 84, 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews 

Recommendation 7

7.1    That the area in the report be transferred from the parish of Pewsey to the parish of Wilcot, Huish and Oare (see
Recommendation 8.3).

7.2    That the Electoral Divisions of Pewsey Vale West and Pewsey be amended to be coterminous with the parish boundaries of Pewsey and Wilcot, Huish and Oare.
Reason: Paragraph 84 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews

Recommendation 8

8.1    That the parishes of Wilcot and Huish be merged into a single parish.

8.2    For the combined parish to have no warding arrangements, with nine councillors.

8.3    For the combined parish to be called Wilcot, Huish and Oare.

Reasons: Paragraph 80, 81 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews 

Recommendation 9

9.1    To NOT recommend creation of a new parish at Derry Hill and Studley during the 2019/20 Community Governance Review.

9.2    To undertake a further Community Governance Review when practicable, to include Calne Without, Calne Town, and other surrounding parishes, so that all potential options and impacts could be considered.

Reasons: Paragraphs 63, 73, 74, 80 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews.

Recommendation 10

10.1 To amend the boundary between the West and Pewsham Wards of Calne Without Parish Council as shown in the report . Reasons: Paragraph 84, 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews
In order for this change to take effect the Local Government Boundary Commission for England would need to provide consent.

Recommendation 11

11.1    That the area of the White Horse ward of North Bradley Parish Council be transferred to Trowbridge Town Council as part of the Trowbridge Drynham ward, coterminous with the Unitary Division of the same name, and to be represented by three town councillors.

11.2    That the area of the Park ward of North Bradley Parish Council be transferred to Trowbridge Town Council as part of the Trowbridge Park ward, coterminous with the Unitary Division of the same name, and to be represented by three town councillors.

11.3    That North Bradley Parish Council be comprised of eleven councillors, without warding arrangements. Reasons: Paragraph 54, 73, 78, 80, 83, 84, 85 and 170 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews.

Recommendation 12

12.1 To not recommend a merger of Melksham and Melksham Without Parishes.

Recommendation 13

13.1    That the area of the Hunters Wood Ward be transferred to the parish of Melksham as part of the Melksham East Ward.

13.2    That the area known as the 'Land north of Sandridge Common' as shown in the report be transferred to the parish of Melksham as part of the Melksham East ward.
13.3    That the Melksham East Ward continue to contain four town councillors.

13.4    To request that the LGBCE amend the Melksham East Division to be coterminous with the proposed revised Melksham East Ward.

13.5    That the Beanacre, Shaw and Whitley Ward be increased to four parish councillors, and be renamed Beanacre, Shaw, Whitley and Blackmore.
Reasons: Paragraph 73, 78, 80, 83, 84, 85 of the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews