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Agenda item

The Future role of the Community and Town Council sector in Wales

To be accompanied by a Presentation from the Head of Local Government Partnerships, Welsh Government.

Minutes:

The Leader and Chairperson welcomed to the meeting Claire Germain, Head of Local Government Partnerships, Welsh Government (WG), in order that she could give a power point presentation on the above topic.

 

The presentation included the following slides:-

 

Commissioning a Review

 

Independent review set-up in 2017 to consider the future role of Community and Town Councils. 

 

Cross-party Panel, with wider expertise/experience drawn in.

 

Given 12 months to:

 

·        Explore the potential role of local government below Local Authority Councils, drawing on best practice;

·        Define the most appropriate model(s)/structure(s) to deliver this role;

·        Consider how these models and structures should be applied across Wales. This will include consideration of any situations in which they would not be necessary or appropriate.

 

Undertaking the Review

 

Involved extensive engagement and evidence gathering, including:

 

  1. Regular Panel meetings including taking evidence;
  2. Wide range of oral and written evidence from stakeholders – gathering as many vies as possible through a range of engagement activity;
  3. Consideration of wider evidence (data, reports, research, etc);
  4. Newsletters updating on progress and opportunities to engage.

 

Findings and Recommendations

 

The Panel set out views on:

 

·       What Community and Town Councils are;

·       What Community and Town Councils do;

·       How Community and Town Councils do it;

·       How Community and Town Councils are held to account

 

Final report submitted in October 2018.

 

Continuing the conversation

 

Written statement issued on 31 November 2018, setting out Welsh Government’s policy approach:

 

1.     Encouraging and enabling change to happen naturally;

2.     Providing an element of choice about how far, and how fast, a Council decides to move;

3.     Creating an environment for Councils to expand their activities where they feel they could/should

 

Welsh Government Areas for Action

 

Areas where we can, and will, take action immediately and areas that require further consideration and consultation

 

Theme

 

Clarifying the role of the sector:

 

Immediate action

 

Undertake a campaign to:

 

  • Confirm important role of sector;
  • Raise awareness of the work of Town/Community Councils (including in areas that don’t have them);
  • Raise awareness of the benefits of establishing new Town/Community Councils;
  • Encourage Town/Community Councils to reflect on what is required locally, in terms of the kinds of services they could deliver.

 

Further consideration

 

1.      Alongside raising awareness of the benefits of establishing new Town/Community Councils, explore other models which could provide a focus for communities in urban areas;

2.      Consider further the usefulness of a ‘placed base services’ distinction, the appetite for change and the pace that it could be sustained;

3.      Consider consulting on the merits of retaining (dual hatted’ Councillors

 

Increasing democracy and participation:

 

Immediate action

 

  • Use existing powers to ensure Community Reviews are conducted on a regular basis;
  • Establish a better understanding of use of social media by Town/Community Councils, to engage their community and facilitate sharing of good practice;
  • Undertake a campaign to encourage more people to stand for election.

 

Further consideration

 

  1. Consider and potentially consult on the need for a comprehensive review of Town/Community Council boundaries, recognising any action in future would require a different legislative vehicle;
  2. Consider whether to ensure that elections should be held regardless of whether seats are contested, balancing stimulating the democratic process with cost;
  3. Explore what more can be done to promote diversity amongst Councillors;
  4. Allow the lower minimum voting age of 16 years to embed (should it go ahead), before considering whether to lower the minimum age to stand as a Town/Community Council candidate to 16 years;
  5. Consider how local engagement and public participation has been  affected in England, following the introduction of the duty on Parish Councils to hold at least one public meeting per year.

 

A Member felt that smaller Community Councils found it difficult to assist the Local Authority they served, ie in providing or supporting services, including some financial support for these from their precept allocation. He felt that within the BCB, there could be some merit in reducing the number of Town/Community Councils and/or combining adjoining ones in order for them to be more robust and valued.

 

He added that some of the smaller ones were finding it difficult working in isolation.

 

The WG representative advised that there were certain areas within Wales that had none or very few Town/Community Councils, for example Merthyr only had one, and there were only a small few in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. She agreed that the review needed to look at the sustainability and robustness of Town/Community Councils, particularly with regard to, (in these times of austerity), services they could provide for the communities they serve.

 

She added that Town/Community Council boundaries were being looked at as part of the review also and she added that WG would encourage any proposals of certain Town/Community Councils working jointly or collaboratively, in the support of constituents as part of a type of Federalisation.

 

A Member also made the point that more money should be made available for Town/Community Councils, to financially support any paid posts they have, such as the Clerk’s salary.

 

A Member felt that the above was an important point to make, given that there was a huge difference in the precepts of, for example, Bridgend Town Council which was in the region of £550k per annum and Merthymawr Community Council which was £4,800k.

 

The WG representative advised the Forum that there was certain funding streams that were available for Town/Community Councils (from WG) and she would send details of these to all Clerks outside of the meeting, in order that they could share details of these with their Members.

 

Prior to debate concluding on this item, the WG representative encouraged all Town/Community Councils to engage with WG on their vision of the future role of Town/Community Councils in Wales as part of a continued consultation process moving forward, until such review reaches its conclusion.

 

The Leader (and Chairperson) on behalf of Members, thanked Ms Germain for attending the meeting and providing such an informative and detailed presentation.

 

RESOLVED:                            That Members noted the presentation from the Head of Local Government Partnerships, Welsh Government.

Supporting documents:

 

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