Decision details

Details of decision: 

At the meeting of the Full Council on 19^th October 2021, members resolved that a community governance review be undertaken of the unparished area of Taunton and surrounding parishes (Trull, Bishop’s Hull, Comeytrowe, Norton Fitzwarren, Staplegrove, Kingston St. Mary, Cheddon Fitzpaine, West Monkton) with a view to the creation of a parish or parishes and council(s) to serve all or part of that area.

As part of this Council resolved to also support the following resolutions;

b) The Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review be delegated to be approved by the Chief Executive Officer and Monitoring Officer or Deputy, after consultation with the Community Governance Review Working Group and the Leader of the Council for later publication.

c) The first round of consultation wording be delegated to be approved by the Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer for use as the basis for the first round of communications in respect of the Community Governance Review with authority delegated to the Specialist in Governance and Democracy to make minor amendments to the text if required, after consultation with the Community Governance Review Working Group and the Leader of the Council.

d) The Communications and Consultation Plan set out at Appendix 10 to this report be approved, with authority delegated to the Specialist in Governance and Democracy to make minor amendments to the text if required, after consultation with the Community Governance Review Working Group.

e) To authorise a general delegation to the Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer, after consultation with the Community Governance Review Working Group to take such action as necessary to progress the community governance review and amend the timetable in accordance with legislation and the statutory guidance.

This decision is a delegated decision to be taken with authority from Full Council and as such, is not subject to the Call-in procedure applying to Executive Portfolio Holder decisions and as such will come into force immediately.

Reasons for proposed decision: 

The four Directors are acting jointly in the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service on an interim and deputy basis upon the expected appointment of a new CEO and Head of Paid Service to be approved by Full Council on 17^th November 2021, as agreed by the Leader of the Council and previous CEO in the agreed Interim Arrangements document signed on 29/10/2021.

There is a statutory process which has to be followed in order to commence the review which starts with the publication of the Terms of Reference for the Review (attached to this Record of Decision) and a formal consultation which will commence on 17 November 2021.  Details of the communications and consultation plan and Stage 1 Consultation document are also attached.

Alternative options considered and rejected: 

A range of alternative options were discussed and debated at the Council meeting on 19^th October 2021. Background to this meeting can be found at: https://democracy.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=325&MId=3011