Issue - meetings

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That the Halebank Parish Council Order 2008 and the Sandymoor Parish Council Order 2008 be made.

            The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy regarding the Halton (Parishes) Order 2007 and the Halton (Parish Electoral Arrangements) Order 2008. These Orders established the Parish Councils for the new Parishes of Halebank and Sandymoor and provided that elections be held on the ordinary day of election for Councillors in 2008, ie 1^st May.

The Council was now required to make the Halebank Parish Council Order 2008 and the Sandymoor Parish Council Order 2008 in order to give effect to the Secretary of State’s Orders.

            RESOLVED: That the Halebank Parish Council Order 2008 and the Sandymoor Parish Council Order 2008 be made.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy regarding the Halton (Parishes) Order 2007 and the Halton (Parish Electoral Arrangements) Order 2008, requesting that a recommendation be made to Council that the Halebank Parish Council Order 2008 and the Sandymoor Parish Council Order 2008 be made. 

It was noted that, following receipt of petitions under Section 11 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had made an Order under Sections 14 and 23 of the Act that the Council establish Parish Councils for the new Parishes of Halebank and Sandymoor.

Following that Order, the Electoral Commission had now made an Order under the same Sections setting out the electoral arrangements, requiring elections to be held on the ordinary day of election for Councillors in 2008, ie 1^st May 2008. The next election for Halebank would take place in 2010, to bring it into line with the neighbouring Parish of Hale. Thereafter, elections would take place every four years. In the case of Sandymoor, the election would take place in 2008 and every fourth year thereafter, again in line with its neighbouring parishes. There would be five Councillors elected for each Parish.

The Board noted that the new Parish Council issued its official precept at any time from the May 2008 elections up to October 2008 but could not exceed the precept anticipated by the Authority, which was to be calculated by the Council and included in the Section 16 Order. It was recommended that the specified amount be £5,000 in the case of each Parish.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the making by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the Halton (Parishes) Order 2007, and by the Electoral Commission of the Halton (Parish Electoral Arrangements) Order 2008, be noted; and

(2)       the Council be recommended to make the Halebank Parish Council Order 2008 and the Sandymoor Parish Council Order 2008.