Issue - meetings

A report from Councillor Eamonn O’Brien Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth and Councillor Tahir Rafiq, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and HR is attached.

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor Tariq and it was:-

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s response, as part of the preliminary period reviewing the number of councillors, to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as set out in Appendix 1 be agreed;

That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive to submit the response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, making any minor amendments as required for submission.

A report from Councillor Eamonn O’Brien Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth and Councillor Tahir Rafiq, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and HR is attached.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, Councillor O’Brien presented a report submitted by himself and Councillor Tahir Rafiq, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and HR.

The report explained that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has identified Bury as requiring a review of Council Size (number of councillors) and warding arrangements as it is almost twenty years since the last review was carried out.

The review will be carried out in a number of stages, initially looking at Council Size and then distribution of wards, including consideration of any ward name changes.

The Council has established a Member Working Group chaired by the Leader of the Council and consisting of the Leaders of all political parties in the Borough.  The work of the group is supported by officers from Legal and Democratic Services, Planning and Communications sections.

The Working Group has supported the proposed contents of the Council Size Submission.

Recognition from all of the Members present at the meeting was given to the hard work of the Council Officers and the cross party Working Group in undertaking the work in relation to the review.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet recommend to Council that:

1.     The Council’s response, as part of the preliminary period reviewing the number of councillors, to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as set out in Appendix 1 be agreed;

2.     Authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive to submit the response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, making any minor amendments as required for submission.

Reasons for the decision:

Undertaking the review after a period of almost twenty years justifies the review.

The completion of the review will ensure more effective councillor representation for the electorate of the Borough.

The new Council size and distribution will support the Bury 2030 Strategy by empowering local communities and individuals, and giving clearer responsibility and accountability to Councillors.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendations.