Community Governance Review - North Whiteley (Phase 1)

Overview

Winchester City Council is consulting local people on options to change the current parish and town council arrangements in Whiteley and Curdridge. This will aim to better serve the new housing in the North Whiteley Major Development Area (MDA).

Why your views matter

The development at North Whiteley will see 3,500 homes, two primary schools, a secondary school, retail and a community centre constructed to the north of the existing settlement of Whiteley, across parts of the parish and town council areas of Whiteley and Curdridge. At present over 500 dwellings have been completed and are occupied.

The Council wishes to carry out a Community Governance Review at this time because the housing development will change the geographical spread of housing across the parish and town council different arrangements to serve the area may be more appropriate as the development grows.

The resulting recommendations of the review should bring about improved community engagement, better local democracy and result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services.

 What powers do parish and town councils have?

Parish and Town Councils have a wide range of responsibilities. The key issues they might oversee for the new development area include; responding to planning applications, managing open spaces, promoting tourism, licensing, community halls, representation and management of town and village centres. Parish and Town Councils have rights to raise funding for services through a precept on the Council Tax, this precept is already being paid by Winchester City Council residents. They can make a key contribution to the wellbeing of their local community.

Towards new council arrangements for North Whiteley

Winchester City Council is presenting four possible options for your consideration. In all options, services provided by Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council will not change.

People who live in the homes within the parish and town council areas of Whiteley and Curdridge are invited to give us their views on the proposals.

The four proposed options for future Parish arrangements

Option 1 - New Council formed for the new development area: Create a new separate council, be it a Parish, Neighbourhood or Community Council, for the North Whiteley MDA.

Option 2 - Move all the new development area into Whiteley Town Parish Council: Remove part of the North Whiteley MDA from Curdridge Parish Council and add it to Whiteley Town Council.

Option 3 - Move all the new development area into Curdridge Parish Council: Remove part of the North Whiteley MDA from Whiteley Town Council and add it to Curdridge Parish Council.

Option 4 – Position to remain unchanged : North Whiteley MDA being covered by one existing Parish Council and one existing Town Council.

What next?

Feedback from this consultation will be considered by Winchester City Council and a further phase will extend into 2023. This will look at approving a preferred option including new boundaries and potential names for any new or reorganised councils.

Final recommendations will be published in 2023. If a formal Reorganisation Order is agreed and approved, it will come into effect from 1st April 2023.

For more information

If you have any questions regarding this Community Governance Review please contact hdoliver@winchester.gov.uk

This Community Governance Review is being developed in line with the legal framework of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The Formal Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review for North Whiteley document is attached below.

What happens next

Feedback from this consultation will be considered by Winchester City Council and a further phase will extend into 2023. This will look at approving a preferred option including new boundaries and potential names for any new or reorganised councils.

Final recommendations will be published in 2023. If a formal Reorganisation Order is agreed and approved, it will come into effect from 1st April 2023.