Agenda item

To report the outcome of the second consultation stage of the Community Governance Review for the unparished area of Grantham following the Council’s formal proposition to create a Parish Council for Grantham.

To report a formal recommendation from the Community Governance Review Working Group regarding the creation of a Parish Council for Grantham.

The Chairman of the Community Governance Review Working Group, Councillor Graham Jeal, presented the report.

Members considered the report which outlined the outcome of the second consultation stage of the Community Governance Review for the unparished area of Grantham following the Council’s formal proposition to create a Parish Council for Grantham.

An amendment was proposed to part 3 of the recommendation to increase the precept from £46,010 to £70,000.

The following points were highlighted during debate of the proposed amendment:

·       Concern of the tax increase following the proposed precept that would be met by Grantham residents.

·       The mayoral budget underspends were discussed, it was suggested that the underspends be utilised as a one-off payment to the proposed new Grantham Parish Council. A reserve figure from previous underspends from grants and taxpayers of approximately £40,000 could be used to finance costs in the first year of Grantham Parish Council’s operation.

·       Members discussed the democratic mandate of the proposed new Grantham Parish Council.

·       The transfer and change of job roles of staff from Grantham Charter Trustees to the Parish Council was raised.

·       Grantham Charter Trustees had rejected the proposal of an increased precept.

·       Members raised the need for a Parish/Town Clerk, and the need for a precept of £70,000 would allow the Parish Council to serve 38,000 people in Grantham sufficiently.

The Monitoring Officer clarified that the Community Governance Review Working Group had reviewed the budget on the precept arrangement at its previous two meetings.

Following the vote, the proposed amendment to increase the precept from £46,010 to £70,000 by South Kesteven District Council for the Community Governance Review for Grantham was lost.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That Full Council:

1. Notes the responses of the second stage of the consultation process associated with the Community Governance Review for Grantham.

2. Approves the Order, at Appendix D of this report, to establish a Parish Council for Grantham based upon the following principles:

• That the boundary for the new Parish Council for Grantham replicates the existing unparished area of Grantham

• That the warding arrangements for the new Parish Council for Grantham replicate existing District Council Wards, as outlined in Appendix A of this report 37 Agenda Item 8

 • That the size of the new Parish Council for Grantham consists of 22 Councillors, comprising 4 Councillors for St Vincent’s Ward and 3 Councillors for all remaining Wards

• That the first elections to the new Parish Council for Grantham be held on 2 May 2024

3. Sets a budget for the first year of the newly established Parish Council for Grantham of £46,010, to be precepted by South Kesteven District Council.

4. Approves a one-off payment to the Parish Council for Grantham of any unallocated funds collected by South Kesteven District Council from Grantham Charter Trustee bank accounts upon the dissolution of the Grantham Charter Trustees.

5. Allows the costs of running the first elections for the Parish Council for Grantham to be spread across the three years of its first term of office, prior to its next elections in May 2027.