parish and town council submissions to the south ... · the parish of hatley has one main road that...

Parish and Town Council Submissions to the South Cambridgeshire District Council electoral review

This PDF document contains submissions from Parish and Town Councils.

Some versions of Adobe allow the viewer to move quickly between

bookmarks.

South Cambridgeshire District

Personal Details:

Name: Marian Burling

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: Parish Council

Comment text:

Council would like to see the Gamlingay Ward remain as it is. Croydon and Arrington have been part of this ward for many years, and it has worked well for both the villages and Councillors. Either one or both of our District Councillors are always at Croydon Parish Council meetings and have been extremely effective with their help and information. It would be a shame to break up a ward that so obviously works.

Uploaded Documents:

None Uploaded

Page 1 of 1Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal

08/01/2016https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/print/informed-representation/6474


Personal Details:

Name: Margot Eagle

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: Hatley Parish Council

Comment text:

Putting Hatley in The Morden ward will not suit Hatley. We are a mere 3 miles or so from Gamlingay and make great use of the amenities there. Most of us are patients at the medical surgery, we take our pets to the vet, some of us sent our children to school in Gamlingay.the church in Hatley St George shares a vicar with Gamlingay church. Our lives are hugely entwined, we shop in Gamlingay, keep fit in Gamlingay and whilst we would of course continue to do all those things should the wards be changed we feel that it makes sense to stay with Gamlingay. The Morden are a substantial distance away and we feel we would not have the same links. We are separated by the A1198 and that would not help any sense of togetherness. We would be too far away to share any facilities. I strongly urge the commission to keep Hatley in the same ward as Gamlingay.

Uploaded Documents:

None Uploaded



of 4

HatleyParishCouncilClerk to the Council: Kim Wilde,

Tel: Email:

Review Officer (South Cambridgeshire) Local Government Boundary Commission for England 14th Floor Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QP 29th January 2016 ELECTORAL REVIEW OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL Dear Sir/Madam I am writing to you on behalf of Hatley Parish Council in response to the current public consultation on the Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council. Background The parish of Hatley is comprised of two small rural hamlets, Hatley St. George and East Hatley, which are located in the arable farmland of South Cambridgeshire. The parish has a population of approximately 185 residents across a total of 75 dwellings, most being classed as commuter workers, although many do also work from home. With the exception of the larger neighbouring village of Gamlingay (3 miles north west of Hatley St. George), this rural area offers very few amenities and services to the residents of Hatley. Gamlingay has become a natural extension to the parish of Hatley in terms of transport links, churches, public services, facilities and community organisations. Hatley Parish Council’s Response to the Consultation Hatley Parish Council does not wish to provide any recommendations for electoral boundaries across South Cambridgeshire, but strongly urges the LGBCE to keep the parish of Hatley in the same District Ward as the neighbouring parish of Gamlingay. The two parishes are intertwined across a range of services and have important community links, which will be highlighted within this response. It is certainly not considered by Hatley Parish Council that the larger village of Gamlingay in anyway diminishes the character, or erodes the identity, of the much smaller parish of Hatley ‐ quite the contrary. The Parish Council hereby requests that electoral boundary review avoids splitting Hatley’s local ties with Gamlingay for the benefit of the local community. Hatley Parish Council would like the following evidence to be taken into account so that the shared community interests are preserved and the parish is represented within a truly local Ward, combined with Gamlingay.

of 4

Public Facilities and Services The only public service in Hatley is the Post Office which additionally offers some basic groceries and fresh produce for local residents on given days of the week. The neighbouring village of Gamlingay offers a wide range of public services and facilities that are otherwise unavailable for many miles around. These include two food stores, two newsagents, a farm shop with a café, a petrol station, car repair and MOT services, a bakery, two hairdressers, an estate agent, a café, a chemist, a lower and a middle school (catchment schools), three preschools, a children’s day care centre, a restaurant and three take‐away food outlets, two public houses and a medical practice. The medical practice includes a General Practice, District Nurse and Health Visitor Services, Clinics and an Emergency Service. Gamlingay also offers the residents of Hatley access to a local fitness gym, sports clubs and sport facilities. There are a wide range of community events held throughout the year and classes for various hobbies and sports held weekly at Gamlingay’s Eco‐Hub Community Centre. The Eco‐Hub is easily accessed by residents of Hatley via a short drive, a public bus service or the Gamlingay and Hatleys Car Scheme, as detailed further on. The Eco‐Hub also offers Hatley residents access to a thriving local library service and a public computer suite. Churches The Benefice of Gamlingay includes St. Mary The Virgin Parish Church (Gamlingay), The Church of St. Mary (Everton) and The Parish Church of Hatley St. George. The Gamlingay Parochial Church Council oversees the services, maintenance and events for this group of churches, which formally ties the parishioners of Hatley to the community in Gamlingay. The Holy Communion service takes place in Hatley St. George on two Sundays a month, however all other Holy Communion and Morning Prayer services are offered in the Gamlingay Church, thereby encouraging both a bond and shared interests between the two parishes. The Hatley St. George Church hosts the annual Hatley Big Weekend in June, including the village fete, which involves participants from organisations that span both Gamlingay and Hatley, as well as welcoming visitors from both villages. Transport The parish of Hatley has one main road that runs through it connecting with Gamlingay to the North West and Croydon to the South East. The only public transport service is the C2 bus Service that operates on Thursdays, taking residents of Hatley into Gamlingay, where they can connect to other bus services, or can continue on the C2 to St Neots. This service operates on a Thursday so that residents have the opportunity to visit St Neots on market day. There is also a Demand Responsive service (Bus No. 28) which links 20 local rural locations, including the Hatleys and Gamlingay. Additionally, the Gamlingay and Hatleys Car Scheme has been in operation for over 20 years, organising transport by volunteer drivers for anyone where public transport is unsuitable or unavailable. This is a useful resource to residents with medical appointments on days that the C2 public bus service is not operating, and when the Demand Responsive may be restricted in availability due to demand by other users across the 20 villages that it services. The scheme provides transportation for a wide range of purposes, not just medical appointments.

of 4

Communications The wide range of services and community groups that are located in Gamlingay are promoted to the residents of Hatley each month via the community news publication ‘The Gazette’. This publication officially calls itself ‘The Newspaper for Gamlingay, East Hatley & Hatley St. George’ confirming the sense of community that exists between the large village of Gamlingay and the smaller hamlets of Hatley. It includes ‘What’s On’ community events, local trade and service advertisements, village information, church notices and articles by various community organisations. There is also an online publication called ‘The Post’, which was in print in 2015, covering news and events across both Hatley and Gamlingay. This mutual community identity is further emphasised when visiting the websites of either Hatley (www.hatley.info) or Gamlingay (www.Gamlingay.org), both of which refer users to the other site for news and information. Neither website makes reference to any other local village websites, illustrating the strong bond that exists between Gamlingay and Hatley. Community Groups and Organisations There is a vast range of groups and organisations based in Gamlingay that are made available to the residents of Hatley. They are actively promoted to the residents of Hatley and in some cases representatives from Hatley are requested to join. Examples include the Women’s Institute, Gamlingay & District History Society, Gamlingay Players, Gamlingay & District Gardening Club, Gamlingay Photographic Society, Greensands Medical Practice Patient Participation Group, the Gamlingay Environmental Action Group, GamArch (local archaeology group that sought test pits in Hatley last summer), Forward Gamlingay (Youth Services) plus various sports clubs, fitness classes, children’s groups, such as Brownies and Scouts, and much more. The Gamlingay Community Turbine is a local project, ‘by the community for the community’, that was installed just outside of the village to generate energy that could offset the village’s carbon foot print. A portion of the profit raised from the energy sales, is used to fund local charities and ‘green’ projects ‘in the Parish of Gamlingay’. It is therefore significant to note that funds were recently given to Hatley St. George Church for the purchase and installation of a composting toilet, providing further evidence that Hatley is considered to be part of a wider community alongside Gamlingay. South Cambridgeshire Council Members Hatley has been very fortunate in recent years to be represented by two District Councillors who reside in Hatley and Gamlingay respectively. The Councillors attend almost every Parish Council meeting and are able to provide useful updates, as well as information and advice when sought by the Parish Council. Fully appreciating that there will be changes to the number of District Councillors going forward, it is important to Hatley to be represented by a Councillor who lives close by, if not in Hatley, who is familiar with Hatley and can offer knowledge, understanding and a passion for the local area. If Hatley is placed in a Ward that encompasses a far wider geographical range of small villages, there may be less visibility of the Local Member and less knowledge of Hatley’s current and historical issues by the Local Member.

of 4

Summary We hope that the points outlined above help to demonstrate that there is a shared local opinion of a wider community that comprises both Gamlingay village and the hamlets of Hatley Parish, and that this identity reaches across a wide range of services and community groups. It is vital to Hatley, as a much smaller rural community, that these essential links and relationships with the larger village of Gamlingay are not severed. Gamlingay does not have any overbearing impact on the character of Hatley, quite the opposite. The relationship has grown and the links have become more wide ranging despite the gradual growth of the village of Gamlingay. It is the view of Hatley Parish Council that a new Ward comprising of both Gamlingay and Hatley will be the most suitable outcome of the review and will best serve the interests and needs of the residents of Hatley. Yours sincerely,

Kim Wilde Clerk to Hatley Parish Council


Personal Details:

Name: Genevieve Dalton

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: Little Abington Parish Council

Comment text:

Little Abington Parish Council would support any proposals that group villages with common interests. This relates in particular to communities on the A1307 from the junction with the A11 to Haverhill. Linton, Hildersham and Great Abington are logical "partners " The reason for reducing the number of district councillors needs to properly explained. We look for to the consultation on proposed boundaries put forward by the Boundary Review.

Uploaded Documents:

None Uploaded



1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 05 February 2016 16:13To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Longstowe Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire

From: Bobbie Coe Sent: 05 February 2016 16:10 To: reviews <[email protected]> Subject: Longstowe Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire

Longstowe Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire Longstowe Parish Council would like to be included in the Gamlingay Ward. This is the current situation with which we are very happy. We are well‐represented and our meetings are well‐attended by our representatives on the South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, who work very hard on our behalf. The Clerks of Gamlingay are also very helpful, and as a very small village, we depend on them for help and advice. Bobbie Coe Clerk, Longstowe Parish Council

1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 18 January 2016 11:19To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Electoral Review

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐ From: Maria Barber [ ] Sent: Monday, January 18, 2016 11:08 AM To: reviews <[email protected]> Subject: Electoral Review Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council Further to the Parish Council meeting on 10th December, Shepreth Parish Council would like to stay with Meldreth and or Melbourn wards. Shepreth has a long history of working with Meldreth in particular. It also works with Melbourn in terms of the youth project MAYD. Any review of the boundaries must keep this in consideration. Kind regards Maria ‐‐ Maria Barber, Parish Clerk Shepreth Parish Council Tel: www.shepreth.org the new website for details of things to do and see in Shepreth, plus information about the Parish Council and local events, organisation and businesses.


Personal Details:

Name: Marian Burling

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: Parish Council

Comment text:

Council would like to see the Gamlingay Ward remain as it is. Croydon and Arrington have been part of this ward for many years, and it has worked well for both the villages and Councillors. Either one or both of our District Councillors are always at Croydon Parish Council meetings and have been extremely effective with their help and information. It would be a shame to break up a ward that so obviously works.

Uploaded Documents:

None Uploaded




Personal Details:

Name: David Brown

E-mail:

Postcode:

Organisation Name: Steeple Morden Parish Council

Comment text:

On behalf of Steeple Morden Parish Council, I would like to record our disagreement to the proposed boundary changes on the grounds that we believe that the relationship between District Councillor to Parishes is too great which will result in less availability for our District Councillor to deal with issues affecting our Parish. Steeple Morden Parish council believes that the optimum number of Parishes for our District Councillor should be 6: Steeple Morden, Guilden Morden, Litlington, Shingay/Wendy, Tadlow & Abingdon Piggots

Uploaded Documents:

None Uploaded



1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 04 January 2016 11:24To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Electrol review of South Cambridgeshire District Council

From: Teversham Parish Council Sent: 04 January 2016 11:22 To: reviews <[email protected]> Subject: Electrol review of South Cambridgeshire District Council Dear Sir/Madam I write on behalf of Teversham Parish Council to confirm that at their December meeting, members unanimously agreed that the Teversham Ward should NOT be split (Teversham Village and Teversham Foxgloves should remain together), or joined with the Fulbourn Ward. However, members appreciate that the wards must be changed and therefore confirm that they feel it would be more prudent to join Teversham (both Teversham Village and Teversham Foxgloves) with one of the other smaller adjoining villages i.e. Stow‐cum‐Quy, Fen Ditton or The Wilbraham’s. Should you require any additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours faithfully Mrs Kim Quiggin Clerk, Teversham Parish Council Tel: www.teversham.info Please note I work Monday and Tuesday 9am – 3pm, for anything outside of these times, please leave a message. Anything urgent will be dealt with outside of these hours.

1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 29 January 2016 17:03To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council

From: Waterbeach Parish Council [ ] Sent: 29 January 2016 16:46 To: reviews <[email protected]> Subject: Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council Dear Sirs At the January meeting of Waterbeach Parish Council, it was noted that the boundary commission may not be sufficiently aware of current housing development and plans for the future in this area, which contains a strategic site incorporating a former military barracks and airfield. Parish Councillors therefore agreed that the commission be asked to look forward and recognise the anticipated growth of Waterbeach in which case no changes should be made. The emerging Local Plan should be considered, noting both population figures and the presence of a strategic site. If, however, a change is absolutely necessary then it would make most sense for Waterbeach to be paired with the nearby community of Milton. With thanks for your serious consideration of this information. Kind regards Liz Jones Clerk to Waterbeach Parish Council Waterbeach Parish Council

Tel: DISCLAIMER: If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete the email and all attachments immediately. This email (including any attachments) may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient any reliance on, use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copy of this email or attachments is strictly prohibited. It has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses, which could damage your computer system. We do not accept liability for any damage you sustain as a result of a virus introduced by this email or any attachment and you are advised to use up to date virus checking software. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free. This email is not intended nor should it be taken to create any legal relations, contractual or otherwise. If verification is required, please request a hard copy version. We are not bound by or liable for any opinion, contract or offer to contract expressed in any email.

2

Whaddon should remain part of the District Council electoral division that contains Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth because we share many common issues that affect both villages, not least of which are Bassingbourn Barracks and the main A1198 road, which largely forms the west/east boundary between the two villages.

We also have a common interest in the water courses in the area as they drain mainly from Bassingbourn and run through Whaddon.

Our secondary age children attend Bassingbourn Village College and our two churches share the same vicar, both of which strengthen our community links.

It is difficult to see which other local areas would share so many issues with Whaddon. Our District Councillors and our current County Councillor (and his predecessor) have all worked tirelessly on behalf of both communities and have a thorough grasp of all the issues.

We are concerned at the proposal to reduce the number of county councillors to 45, which could increase the individual work load of councillors. This is particularly unfortunate at a time when the Cambridgeshire population is growing at the fastest rate of any English County area.

A very similar email was sent to you on 16th January 2015 in response to the Review on Cambridgeshire County Council. Our comments were incorporated in the revised draft subsequently issued and we feel it would be invidious for Whaddon to be grouped with other Parishes for District Council business.

Yours sincerely Lee Ginger Chair Whaddon Parish Council

1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 29 January 2016 17:03To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council

From: Waterbeach Parish Council [ ] Sent: 29 January 2016 16:46 To: reviews <[email protected]> Subject: Electoral Review of South Cambridgeshire District Council Dear Sirs At the January meeting of Waterbeach Parish Council, it was noted that the boundary commission may not be sufficiently aware of current housing development and plans for the future in this area, which contains a strategic site incorporating a former military barracks and airfield. Parish Councillors therefore agreed that the commission be asked to look forward and recognise the anticipated growth of Waterbeach in which case no changes should be made. The emerging Local Plan should be considered, noting both population figures and the presence of a strategic site. If, however, a change is absolutely necessary then it would make most sense for Waterbeach to be paired with the nearby community of Milton. With thanks for your serious consideration of this information. Kind regards Liz Jones Clerk to Waterbeach Parish Council Waterbeach Parish Council

Tel: DISCLAIMER: If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete the email and all attachments immediately. This email (including any attachments) may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient any reliance on, use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copy of this email or attachments is strictly prohibited. It has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses, which could damage your computer system. We do not accept liability for any damage you sustain as a result of a virus introduced by this email or any attachment and you are advised to use up to date virus checking software. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free. This email is not intended nor should it be taken to create any legal relations, contractual or otherwise. If verification is required, please request a hard copy version. We are not bound by or liable for any opinion, contract or offer to contract expressed in any email.

1

Starkie, Emily

From: Fuller, HeatherSent: 12 January 2016 09:54To: Starkie, EmilySubject: FW: Boundary review of South Cambridgeshire

From: Lee Ginger [ Sent: 12 January 2016 09:46 To: reviews <[email protected]> Cc:

Subject: Boundary review of South Cambridgeshire

To whom it may concern I write as the Chair of Whaddon Parish Council and, having discussed with the Council at our meeting on 11th January 2016 the potential for a change to the electoral boundaries in South Cambridgeshire, we agreed that:

Whaddon should remain part of the District Council electoral division that contains Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth because we share many common issues that affect both villages, not least of which are Bassingbourn Barracks and the main A1198 road, which largely forms the west/east boundary between the two villages.

We also have a common interest in the water courses in the area as they drain mainly from Bassingbourn and run through Whaddon.

Our secondary age children attend Bassingbourn Village College and our two churches share the same vicar, both of which strengthen our community links.

It is difficult to see which other local areas would share so many issues with Whaddon. Our District Councillors and our current County Councillor (and his predecessor) have all worked tirelessly on behalf of both communities and have a thorough grasp of all the issues.

We are concerned at the proposal to reduce the number of county councillors to 45, which could increase the individual work load of councillors. This is particularly unfortunate at a time when the Cambridgeshire population is growing at the fastest rate of any English County area.

A very similar email was sent to you on 16th January 2015 in response to the Review on Cambridgeshire County Council. Our comments were incorporated in the revised draft subsequently issued and we feel it would be invidious for Whaddon to be grouped with other Parishes for District Council business.

Yours sincerely Lee Ginger Chair Whaddon Parish Council