To appoint a Chairman for the ensuing year.

Councillor Robinson was nominated as Chairman for the ensuing year.

Councillor Nairn was nominated as Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Hewett and Gould.

The duties to register, disclose and not to participate for the entire consideration of the matter, in respect of any matter in which a Members has a disclosable pecuniary interest are set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011.  Members are also required to withdraw from the meeting room as stated in the Standing Orders of this Council.

None.

The Terms of Reference of the Community Governance Sub-Committee were approved at the Full Council meeting held on 2 November 2017.

The Terms of Reference of the Community Governance Sub-Committee were noted.

Report of Mark Stinson, Executive Manager Governance.

Carbrooke

A request had been received from Carbrooke Parish Council to increase the number of councillors on the parish council from seven to nine members.  There would be no alteration to the parish boundaries as part of the review.

Members agreed the Terms of Reference for Carbrooke.

Great Ellingham

A request had been received to undertake a community governance review of the Parish of Great Ellingham with a view to extending the southern boundary of the parish of Great Ellingham to meet the natural boundary provided by the A11 which lies within the parish of Attleborough (Queens and Besthorpe Ward). 

The request suggests the properties on the south side of the A11 have no natural ties with the Town of Attleborough as their properties are closer in proximity to the parish of Great Ellingham.

Member were reminded that the review of the Parish boundary, would not affect the District ward boundary, and any proposed change to the district ward boundary could not be implemented unless the Boundary Commission agreed to do so.

Members agreed the Terms of Reference for the Great Ellingham Governance review subject to the additional wording on Electoral arrangements, highlighting the fact that any proposed changes to these arrangements would require the approval of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England prior to implementation.

Councillor Smith referred to the Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan and whether specialist advice could be sought from Planning Policy and Economic Development to see if there were any impact on the Neighbourhood plan if the parish boundary for Great Ellingham were to change.

Thetford

A request had been received to undertake a community governance reivew of the Parish of Thetford.  The review would consider whether the settlement boundary of the parish of Thetford should include the Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) and as a separate consideration warding arrangements within both the existing parish council boundaries and the proposed boundary. 

Again members were reminded that the review of the parish boundary, would not affect the District ward boundary, or the Norfolk County boundary.  Whilst recommendations could be made on the warding arrangements, they could not be implemented unless the Boundary Commission agreed to do so.

Members agreed the Terms of Reference for Thetford Community Governance review, subject to the additional wording on electoral arrangements, highlighting the fact that any proposed changes to these arrangements would require the approval of the Local Government Boundary for England prior to implementation. 

Whilst not declaring an interest, Councillors Robinson and Hollis indicated that they represented the Thetford Boudica ward.

The Executive Manager for Governance suggested the Terms of Reference be amended to ensure the issue was specifically outlined to provide clarity in both the Great Ellingham and the Thetford reviews to manage expectations. 

Members agreed delegated Authority to the Democratic Services Manager subject to consultation with the Chairman to make the amendments.

To make the necessary arrangements for the next meeting.

The next meeting would be scheduled for the end of March 2018, to incorporate results from the consultation period.