Issue - meetings

Over the last eighteen months, the existing Parish Charter has been updated and revised in consultation with our parishes.  The revised Charter was adopted by Cabinet in April 2018.  Cabinet also agreed for a review in the first year in order to make any further refinements required as part of the Council’s Changing Together programme.  The Charter is now presented to Council, for its endorsement, and for its adoption of the Terms of Reference for Parish Liaison.  The Charter will be presented to the Bath and North East Somerset branch of the Avon Local Councils’ Association (ALCA) at its AGM in September 2018.

The Council considered a report seeking its endorsement to the revised Parish Charter which was adopted by Cabinet in April 2018.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Myers, seconded by Councillor Paul May, it was unanimously

RESOLVED

1.  To endorse the revised Parish Charter attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.  To adopt the Terms of Reference for the Parish Liaison meeting contained within the Parish Charter at its Appendix 1.

A revised Parish Charter has been prepared following engagement with our parish councils.  It is presented to Cabinet for adoption prior to an invitation for Full Council to endorse at its AGM in May 2018, and to the B&NES branch of ALCA to endorse at its AGM in September 2018.

The Monitoring Officer informed the meeting that those Councillors present who were also Parish and Town Councillors did not need to declare an interest in this item as this was a matter of public record.

Councillor Neil Butters made an ad hoc statement by welcoming the report and asked the Cabinet to recognise importance of informing and training of all Council staff that would be in working closely with Town and Parish Councils.  Councillor Butters also stressed the importance of cross-boundary work with neighbouring authorities.

Councillor Paul Myers introduced the report by thanking the Working Group of Parish representatives who had overseen the process of revising the Charter and the associated consultation.  The Group had met regularly since November 2016 and invited Cabinet Members and senior officers to their meetings to discuss views and experiences.  The adoption of the revised Parish Charter represents a significant milestone in the evolving relationship between Bath & North East Somerset Council and local Parish Councils.  The Charter contained a series of core principles and commitments on both sides.  The Charter set out additional useful information such as updated terms of reference for Parish Liaison and Parish Council functions and responsibilities.  Alongside the Charter there was a ‘Toolkit’ designed to be a working document offering practical information on structures, protocols and standards.  The Toolkit could be readily updated and changed and made available to other organisations including in non-parished areas.  Councillor Myers also said that the Charter had been subject to extensive consultation, with 43 parishes out of 51 responding.  The draft Charter was considered by the Communities, Transport and Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel who recognised the importance of training and development to ensure that Council staff would have a good understanding of the Charter and the opportunities for partnership working with Parish Councils.

Councillor Paul Myers moved the recommendations.

Councillor Paul May seconded the motion by saying that since the Parish Charter was adopted in 1999, the context had changed significantly as a result of financial pressures but also due to new opportunities such as advances in digital technology and enhanced partnership arrangements.  As a result, the Parish Charter had been revised and a new, draft Charter was now ready for adoption.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

2.1  Adopt the revised Parish Charter attached as Appendix 1 to the report, with the exception of the revised Terms of Reference for Parish Liaison which are for Council to determine.

2.2  Recommend that the Council’s AGM in May endorse the Parish Charter and that it reviews and adopts the revised Terms of Reference for Parish Liaison set out in Appendix 1 of the Charter document.

2.3  Agree that the implementation of the Charter be reviewed and evaluated in the first year of its operation in order to make any further refinements required as part of the Council’s Changing Together programme.

2.4  Acknowledge and thank the members of the Working Group for their contributions and the parish councils who responded to the consultation.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194

A report on the Draft Parish Charter is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration – Councillor Paul Myers, Parish Councillor Rosemary Naish and Andy Thomas, Strategic Manager Communities gave a presentation to the Panel which covered the following:

·  Overview

·  Revised Draft Parish Charter

·  Consultation Summary

·  Common Issues Raised

·  Implementation

·  Decision making process

·  Web page

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Butters expressed his thanks for all the work that had been done. He asked about the Parish Sweeper Scheme, Councillor Myers explained that he would ask Councillor Goodman to give specific advice to the Panel on this but that he hoped to invoke the spirit of the Parish Charter. He explained that the working group will present to the Parish Liaison Committee.

Councillor Butters asked about issues that cross parish borders. Councillor Myers explained that his role was to liaise with other bodies such as towns and parishes on the borders. Rosemary Naish explained that this issue could be raised at the next review meeting.

Councillor Butters asked if officers had regard for Parish Council views and asked if some education was needed for staff on this issue. Councillor Myers explained that this was about mutual respect and understanding on both sides. The officer explained that staff will be involved which will help as sometimes there can be a lack of knowledge on both sides.

Councillor Gilchrist asked about the role of the Council Chairman chairing the Parish Liaison Committee. Councillor Myers suggested that it might be an idea to consider rotating the Chair but also acknowledged that it was good to have a Chair who was neutral. Rosemary Naish added that the layout of the Parish Liaison meeting has now been changed so that groups sit together.

Councillor Anketell Jones stated that employment in rural areas has grown 5 times faster than predicted in the core strategy which was making Parish Council’s more important.

Councillor Bull stated that there was a need to monitor the Parish Charter especially with regard to devolved services such as libraries.

Councillor Simmons asked about the roles of the Parish Council and Community Forums. Rosemary Naish explained that some groups such as Julian House come along to Community Forums but may not attend Parish Liaison meetings as the meetings had a very different flavour.

The Chairman thanked members of the working group for updating the Panel and answering questions.