WARRINGTON Borough Council has confirmed it has received a petition for a Governance Review at Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council, and is now studying the petition to see if it has met the necessary criteria.
More than 650 local residents have signed up to a formal request for the Borough Council to undertake a Community Governance Review in the Parish, after local Independent Councillors Bernie Kingston and Neil Johnson
assisted with the collection of signatures.
Cllr Johnson travelled to Warrington Borough Council’s offices in Times Square last week to submit the signatures and the formal request in person.
He says it will afford local people the chance to “decide their own futures” and aims to put an end to “the culture of secrecy” surrounding the Parish Council.
Cllr Neil Johnson said: “I am pleased to report that the requisite number of signatures has been collected to begin the process of a Community Governance Review in Culcheth and Glazebury.
“This is something that residents have been calling for for some time.
“A Community Governance Review is a legal process where the Borough Council can review how people are represented. As well as the Parish Council, reviews can also consider electoral arrangements, such as the number of councillors and individual warding arrangements in parishes.
“The process should be transparent, open, and independently managed. A Community Governance Review provides a structured and impartial route for examining governance arrangements, ensuring that residents’ voices are heard without the barriers, delays, or pressures that have characterised the current management of the Parish Council.
“A full consultation will follow, and residents will have the opportunity to make proposals for how the governance of our local area might change. Options available include the dissolution of the Parish Council in its current form, in the event that enough people feel strongly enough”.
Cllr Johnson added: “Kick-starting a Community Governance Review is a landmark moment. More than 600 residents have signed the petition to commence the process, which is now in the hands of the Borough Council solicitor. I will be urging the Council not to delay, but to act quickly to get this consultation fully underway.
“As your independent voice, I am committed to ensuring that democracy is put back into the hands of the people. I want to see an end to the culture of secrecy, the lack of transparency, and the constant safeguarding of vested interests that characterise our Parish and Borough Council. I will be on hand to discuss and assist all residents with the submissions they make to this Review.
“This is our chance to decide our own futures. Let’s make the best of it!”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have received a petition for community governance review for Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and are currently checking that all the criteria is met. Once agreed, we have to draw up terms of reference and publish them. The Terms of Reference is a prompt to local consideration, initial discussions and the exchange of ideas in a review, which will in turn assist the council to prepare draft proposals. We have one year to complete the review. As part of this, a full consultation takes place, involving parishes, ward members, local stakeholders and residents. Given that there is a Boundary Review taking place it is likely that any review will be deferred until that is complete in accordance with Boundary Commission guidance.
“A Community Governance Review can be triggered by a petition presented to the Council. For a petition to be valid, certain conditions need to be met. For areas with more than 2,500 local electors, the petition must be signed by at least 7.5% of them.
“A review deals with matters including naming, mergers, alteration, abolition, and electoral arrangements. This is to make sure that local governance is effective and convenient, and that it reflects the identities and interests of local communities. A review generally deals with structural issues and does not deal with dissatisfaction with the operational decisions of a Parish Council and its members, which are more appropriately dealt with through the electoral process and engagement with the Parish Council and its auditors.”
Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council was also given the opportunity to respond to the call for a Governance Review, but as yet none has been forthcoming.
