Your community Your say Could local decision-making be improved in - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Your community Your say Could local decision-making be improved in the Canterbury district?

Aims of this presentation ● To give an overview of the review process ● To let you know how you can give us your views

What is the review about? Purpose Review of the existing parish council arrangements and what should happen in the areas not currently covered by a parish or town council. Scope ● create, merge, alter (or abolish) existing parish councils. ● consider the range of alternative arrangements in the urban areas. Could include town council(s) or parishing of urban areas. Aim To test whether we need to: ● improve engagement with the community ● change how local democracy works ● alter the way local services are delivered. Why now? Council commitment made at the end of the Governance Review and reaffirmed in March 2017. Who is Cross-party Councillor Working Group will endorse draft recommendations for involved? further consultation. Timetable Scheduled for completion by July 2018.

What are the options? There are several options in the areas which do not currently have a parish or town council, including: ● leaving things as they are ● setting up panels of local city councillors with more powers than they currently have ● establishing town councils or parished areas within a town ● creating other types of community organisation

A town council for Whitstable? It might look after things like: ● allotments ● beach huts management ● boot fairs ● the cemetery ● grass cutting ● the market ● parks and play areas ● public toilets ● street cleaning

Financial context ● A number of council services are being managed by independent trusts or by community groups ● Examples include Whitstable Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, Whitstable Museum and the Horsebridge Centre ● The council expects to have to save a further £8.2million by 2023 ● This means the council needs to decide what it can afford to provide ● A town council can fund services by raising additional council tax which could be a way of maintaining services

Next steps 8 October 2017 Stage 1 - submissions stage of consultation closes October to Stage 2 - consider submissions and prepare draft December 2017 recommendations January 2018 Council approves draft recommendations January to March Stage 3 - consult on draft recommendations 2018 April to June 2018 Stage 4 - prepare final recommendations mid-July 2018 Council approve recommendations July 2018 to April Prepare Community Governance Order(s) 2019 Consult with the Boundary Commission on consequential matters May 2019 Local elections

Have your say The submissions stage of consultation is open until 8 October. Have your say by: ● Completing our questionnaire (either on paper or online) ● Contributing to our online consultation where you can take part in the discussion and see what others are saying ● Written submissions will be accepted by email at strategy@canterbury.gov.uk or in writing All information is available at www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgr

Any questions?