Community Governance Review
Following the enactment of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, Wealden District Council can review the boundaries and electoral arrangements of the parishes within its area. This is known as a Community Governance Review.
The Department for Local Government and Communities and the Electoral Commission have published some Guidance (pdf file, 343kb) on the conduct of Community Governance Reviews.
Wealden District Council is undertaking a Community Governance Review to consider the following matters:
- the electoral arrangements of the Parish of East Dean and Friston
- the boundaries and electoral arrangements of the parishes of Pevensey and Westham
View the Terms of Reference of this Review (pdf file, 120 kb).
Consultation for the Parish of East Dean and Friston
As part of this review, East Dean and Friston Parish Council have requested that Wealden District Council consider implementing a reduction in the number of their parish councillors from fourteen to ten. The Parish Council states that it has struggled for some while to obtain sufficient councillor numbers: in 2007, there were nine validly nominated councillors and in 2003 just five, meaning council meetings were only quorate – and thus able to make decisions – if every single councillor was able to attend.
The numbers
The electorate of East Dean and Friston parish currently stands at 1,421 electors, and forecasts predict electorate numbers will stay virtually static over the next five years. Guidance provided by the National Association of Local Councils recommends that a parish council serving between 1400 and 2000 electors should consist of nine parish councillors – close to the council’s own recommendation of ten councillors.
Currently, there is one parish councillor for every 102 East Dean and Friston electors. With the proposed reduction to ten councillors this would decrease to one councillor to every 142 electors. The average across the District currently stands at one parish or town councillor to every 253 electors.
Your views
Wealden District Council would like to hear parishioners’ views on this proposal. If you would like to register your view, please write to Electoral Services, Wealden District Council, Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1DH, or you can email us at elections@wealden.gov.uk. If you wish, you can submit your views on a consultation questionnaire - copies are available from the Wealden Electoral Services Office (01892 602417) or from the Parish Clerk (01323 872975). You can also take part in the online East Dean & Friston consultation.
Consultation for the Parishes of Pevensey and Westham
As part of this review, Pevensey Parish Council has requested that Wealden District Council consider two amendments to the boundary between the Pevensey and Westham parishes. The affected areas are:
Proposal A (coloured blue on the map)
To continue the boundary westwards along Langney Sewer to the Eastbourne boundary which would be the western end of the Castle View Caravan Park field. The boundary would then follow the Eastbourne boundary to the beach on the road beside the golf course and Bay View Camp Site. This proposal would affect properties within the following roads in the Westham Parish:
- Eastbourne Road
- Grey Tower Road
- Old Martello Road
- a total of 33 properties and 38 electors.
Pevensey Parish Council's reason for proposing this amendment is because they consider this area is remote from the Westham settlement and that it forms part of the entrance to Pevensey Bay village.
Proposal B
To include the land on the north side of the railway line (Anderida Park) to border with the Valentine paddock and St Mary's Church. The border could then run alongside the railway line (Area B1, coloured green on map). Alternatively the border could continue down a path to the existing border (Area B2, coloured yellow on map).
Pevensey Parish Council's reason for proposing this amendment is because Anderida Park is owned by Pevensey Parish Council and they consider it would be sensible for it to be included in the Parish.
Westham Parish Council has stated that it is strongly opposed to all of the proposals and considers that the areas are historically part of the Parish of Westham as they were the ecclesiastical boundaries.
The numbers
Pevensey Parish’s electorate currently stands at 2,667 electors; Westham’s stands at 4,689.
The cost
It is difficult to estimate what the cost of any change may be, but there will be a cost which will fall to the Parish Councils - for example, there may be conveyancing costs should land be transferred.
Your views
Wealden District Council would like to hear parishioners’ views on these proposals. Copies If you would like to register your view, please write to Electoral Services, Wealden District Council, Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1DH, or you can email us at elections@wealden.gov.uk. . If you wish, you can submit your views on a consultation questionnaire - copies are available from the Wealden Electoral Services Office (01892 602417) or from the Parish Clerks (Westham - Anne Coode 01323 461299; Pevensey - Malcolm Lawson, 01323 483255). You can also take part in the online Pevensey & Westham consultation.
If you would like further information about the review, you can phone the Electoral Services Office on 01892 602417.
Please let us have your views by 31 January 2010.
This review is being considered by the Council's Regulatory & Audit Committee. You can view their reports as follows:
30 September 2008 (pdf, 45kb)
9 December 2008 (pdf, 70kb)
17 March 2009 (pdf, 166kb)
A copy of the Terms of Reference are available for inspection at the Council's Offices at Pine Grove, Crowborough and Vicarage Lane, Hailsham.