BRIGG 'MAY FEATURE IN SHAKE-UP'

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

A major shake-up of all eight town councils across North Lincolnshire is planned and could see the number of councillors reduced. 
This is the first time in the history of North Lincolnshire a review of this scale has taken place.
Some town councils have, in the last year, consulted and told North Lincolnshire Council their preferred electoral arrangements, which prompted the review of all town councils.
In addition to the town council review, one parish meeting – Holme – wants to stop operating and the Community Governance Review will determine if this is the best option.
The Review must take into account community governance arrangements on community cohesion and the size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish.
As part of the Review, North Lincolnshire Council must consult local people before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals. 
This is expected to start soon for a period of 12 weeks.
Coun Richard Hannigan, Cabinet Member for Governance and Transformation at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have never before undertaken such a review that will collectively examine the electoral arrangements for all eight town councils in North Lincolnshire. This is a large scale review that will affect thousands of residents.
“We would be looking at starting the review once the terms of reference are agreed. The plan is for the Governance Scrutiny Panel to undertake the review with recommendations presented to full council once completed.
“We want to give everyone the chance to have their say and tell us what they think about their town council electoral arrangements. 
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will determine the shape of town councils to come.”

NF adds: The  report was considered at North Lincolnshire Council’s Full Council meeting held on Thursday (September 29) at the Civic Centre in Scunthorpe. 
We have been told that the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 enables the council to carry out a review of the whole, or part, of the district to consider one or more of the following:

• Creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
• The naming of parishes and the style of any new parishes
• The electoral arrangements for parishes e.g. the ordinary year of election, council size, the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding
• Grouping of parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes

The Review will consider:

• The electoral arrangements for the parishes of Barton, Bottesford, Brigg, Barton, Broughton, Crowle and Ealand, Epworth, Kirton in Lindsey and Winterton. This includes the number of councillors elected to the parishes and "parish warding."
• What the appropriate community governance arrangements are for Holme including (but not limited to) whether the parish should be abolished, merged or grouped with another parish
• Any other relevant issues that are submitted in response to the review consultation process

As the North Lincolnshire meeting was only held last Thursday, Brigg Town Council has not had an opportunity to discuss the issue or respond. Brigg Blog will be there when this happens and will keep our followers informed. Brigg Town Council has 19 seats at present. That's been the number for many years.