Agenda item

That the draft response to the consultation paper be agreed, with the response to Question 3 expanded to reinforce the need for flexibility.

The Chief Executive introduced the report to agree the Council’s response to the consultation paper of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales on Council size.  He advised that a supportive response should be made and that good feedback had been received on the draft following consultation with Group Leaders.  A key point raised by Group Leaders was the need for flexibility so that when the review proceeded to considering the detail of ward boundaries, a practical arrangement reflecting local community ties could be arrived at.

The Leader welcomed the new methodology and spoke of the flawed process in the previous review which had been correctly challenged.  On councillor to population ratios (Question 3) he said there was a need to recognise the rural and urban area split in Flintshire, which would not be recognised by a standard ratio set.  He went on to refer to the Community Review, information on which would be reported for agreement to Cabinet and Council.

Councillor H.G. Roberts disagreed with the view given in the consultation paper that the proposed approach was objective, transparent and underpinned by a robust methodology, and gave details of an alternative approach of his own.

Councillor M.J. Peers said that there was no clear split in the table showing population percentages living outside settlements to justify the demarcation point chosen of 50%.  He raised concerns about the lack of a robust methodology and felt that councillor to population ratios should be flexible to take account of rural areas.

Councillor L.A. Aldridge said that the Boundary Commission would need to take into consideration the Public Services Commission and Ministerial announcements on local education authorities.

Councillor R.B. Jones spoke in support of the draft response.

Councillor C. Legg felt that close-knit urban areas and scattered rural areas should be distinguished and was concerned at the apparent slight erosion of democracy.

Councillor R.C. Bithell agreed and said that decision making processes should be close to people.  He spoke of Local Government reform and hoped that previous mistakes would not be repeated.

Councillor I.B. Roberts said that views must be made clear on any Local Government reorganisation and questioned the use of population figures rather than electorate figures.

The Democracy & Governance Manager explained that the Boundary Commission had adapted the Scottish model for use in Wales and that the ratios for the four categories had been explained fully in paragraph 2.11 of the consultation document.  In response to other comments made, he pointed out that the Council’s draft response had alluded to consideration of the Williams Commission on Public Service Governance and the need for the number of councillors to be used as a flexible starting point to each review.

The Chief Executive spoke about the need to move forward and was satisfied that Flintshire had been given an appropriate ‘fit’ with comparable councils in the category in which it had been placed.

The Chair asked for clarification on the response to Question 3 on population ratios.  The Democracy & Governance Manager said that the draft response of ‘yes’ should be expanded to reinforce the need for flexibility.

The Leader of the Council summed up the discussion and on being put to the vote, the draft response incorporating the amendment to Question 3 was carried by a large majority.

RESOLVED:

That the draft response to the consultation paper be agreed, with the response to Question 3 expanded to reinforce the need for flexibility.