Cheltenham residents to be asked if they want a town council
As Gloucestershire moves towards a revolution that will determine just who runs the county, Cheltenham residents are to be asked if they still want a town council to represent them.
*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.
The people of Cheltenham will be asked if they want a town council to be established as the borough council faces being absorbed by a larger authority.
Cheltenham Borough Council finds itself in flux amid national plans to reorganise local government in England.
Ministers want to see districts such as Cheltenham form part of new unitary councils.
In Gloucestershire, there are currently three potential models being explored.
And in light of these changes, the borough council wants to make sure it retains and improves community engagement and cohesion, local democracy; and the delivery of effective local services.
Councillors agreed in May to launch a community governance review with the main purpose of understanding whether there is support for setting up any new town or parish councils in the borough.
The review also looks at whether any of the existing parish councils of Charlton Kings, Leckhampton with Warden Hill, Prestbury, Swindon Village or Up Hatherley wish to amend their existing boundaries.
An initial survey has been carried out and 101 responses were provided to the survey and the majority of respondents, 43.88 per cent, said they did not know whether a new parish or town council should be created.
Most respondents felt that the name of their existing parish reflects their community (71.9 per cent).
However, when asked if respondents felt the parish boundary they were commenting on was suitable for the community, responses were somewhat split, 35.9 per cent said yes, however 48.4 per cent said no it should be reviewed.
When asked if a new parish or town council should be created, 43.88 per cent said they did not know, 28.57 per cent said no and 27.55 per cent said yes.
Councillors agreed yesterday to directly ask the public if they would like to see a town ouncil in Cheltenham.
This consultation question would provide an overview of what a town council could be responsible for and provide some options as to its boundaries.
The authority will also complete a full review of the parish boundaries of Swindon Village and Prestbury including Wyman’s Brook to establish which parish it should sit in.
They will also complete a full review of the unparished area between Prestbury and Charlton Kings to understand if it should be incorporated into one of the already established councils.
And to consider setting up a new parish for Benhall and The Reddings.
This consultation question would provide an overview of what a town council could be responsible for and provide some options as to its boundaries.
Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley), who presented the report at the Municipal Offices yesterday (October 13), said the spa town and Gloucester have unparished areas.
“Gloucester has one, we have five. And the rest of Gloucestershire is fully perished,” she said.
“Cirencester, as an example, also has a town council.
“That’s the level of representation. We need to make sure when we move into the next phase of whatever local government becomes, all of our areas have some level of local accountability and representation.”
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com