Executive_Briefing_t...
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Guildford Borough Council is considering conducting a Community Governance Review (CGR) to evaluate whether the currently unparished urban areas of Guildford should form a new parish. This review, guided by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, aims to ensure community governance reflects local identities and is effective and convenient.
This review has on part been prompted by concerns on the perceived lack of local democracy once a Unitary Authority is implemented with the consequent demise of Guildford Borough Council.
The Guildford Borough Council Executive are due to consider the matter at their July meeting having defered the issue from the June meeting. Below are two documents due to be discussed at the July meeting, a briefing note which highlights a number of issues with conducting a review and the DRAFT Terms of Reference for the review. Both documents can be found linked to the foot of this post.
The proposal suggests creating a Guildford Town Council (GTC), styled as a Town Council, with boundaries mirroring current Borough wards and comprising 24 councillors across 10 wards. The unparished urban area includes wards such as Castle, Merrow, Stoke, and Westborough, with an electorate totalling over 52,000. The review invites alternative proposals, provided they include maps and rationale. Statutory guidance will direct the process, with decisions shaped by public consultation and best practices.
The CGR provides an opportunity to enhance local democracy, foster community cohesion, and improve service delivery for Guildford residents.
Three Parishes not being considered
An alternative suggestion for the creation of three parishes described as Central, East and West Guildford was sent to the Council earlier this year. This, however, did not delineate boundaries by reference to a map, and therefore cannot be evaluated. The CGR can consider alternative proposal submissions if received during the consultation period, and so long as the area(s) to which they relate are clearly defined by reference to a map and any rationale for and benefits of the proposal(s) are supplied alongside.
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