Embleton and District Parish Council Community Governance Review
Allerdale Borough Council received a Community Governance Review (CGR) application following resolution at the Council Meeting held on 15 June 2022.
Embleton and District Parish Council resolved to submit a request to reduce the number of seats on the Council from 13 to 9.
Residents and stakeholders of Embleton and District Parish Council Area – Embleton, Wythop and Setmurthy can contribute to this review by engaging with public consultations.
The consultation will run from 12 December 2022 to 13 January 2023.
Following this consultation Allerdale Borough Council will then make final recommendations to the new Shadow Cumberland Council which will make the final decision, this is as per the Structural Changes Order (Cumbria 2022).
If Cumberland Council make the decision to amend the Councillor numbers the changes will be reflected for the Parish Elections Scheduled for May 2023.
Consultation on the proposals
The consultation has now closed.
More information and FAQs
In undertaking the review the Council will be guided by the relevant parts of the Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the relevant parts of the Local Government Act 1972 and Guidance on Community Governance Reviews issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Electoral Commission. These terms of reference will set out the matters on which the review is to focus.
A valid request was submitted to Allerdale Borough Council, requesting that a community governance review be conducted to reduce the number of seats.
The review will consider:
- The electoral arrangements of Embleton and District Parish Council in respect of the number of councillors representing the parish
All local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body who appears to have an interest in the review will be consulted on the proposals and their representations will be taken into account as part of the review.
The Council must have regard to the need to secure that the community governance arrangements for the area reflect the identities and interests of the community in the area and are effective and convenient.
The Council wants to ensure that there is clarity and transparency to the area that the Parish Council represents and that the electoral arrangements are appropriate, equitable and readily understood by the electorate.
In its White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, the Government emphasised that “Ultimately, the recommendations made in a community governance review ought to bring about improved community engagement, more cohesive communities, better local democracy and result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services.”
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 requires the Council to consult the local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body who appears to have an interest in the review and to take the representations that are received into account by judging them against the criteria in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
Informal consultation will be undertaken with Parish Representatives, following this all electors for the parish area under review and any other person or body who appears to have an interest in the review will be consulted on the proposals and all representations will be considered, all consultees will be informed of the outcome of the review.
Any decisions made and the reasons for those decisions will be published following the review. The mechanism for this will be through the Council website, the Parish Council Website, issuing press releases and through posting notices within the area affected by the review.
A principal council (for example Allerdale Borough Council) can undertake a review to establish whether any existing town and parish council arrangements should be changed in any way, including
- The creation of a new parish or town council
- The establishment of a separate council for an existing parish
- The amendment of parish boundaries
- The dissolution of a parish council.
- Changes to the electoral arrangements of a parish council (including Councillor Seats)
Community Governance Reviews can also be triggered by local people presenting a petition to the Council.
A valid request was submitted to Allerdale Borough Council, requesting that a community governance review be conducted to reduce the number of seats.
Cumberland Council. Prior to this Allerdale Borough Council will make a recommendation, which could either be to reduce the number of seats or leave as it is.
We are encouraging anyone with an interest Embleton and District Parish Council Area (Embleton, Wythop and Setmurthy) to complete, this includes residents and those who work/own businesses in the area.
Parish and town councils are the most local tier of government in England. There are currently about 10,000 parishes in England – around 8,900 of which have councils served by approximately 70,000 councillors. Town and Councils have a wide range of powers which relate to local matters such as looking after community buildings/assets, statues/memorials, parks/open spaces, allotments, play areas, bus shelters, Christmas lights and community events/festivals. Parish and Town Councils also support local charities and community groups with grant funding.
The amount you pay in Council Tax will not be affected by this Community Governance Review.
