Community Governance Review - stage 2 - Houghton Conquest

Responses from consultation

Parish council: no proposal received

6 responses

Comments:

“To not include Wixams, which was never agreed to be part of Houghton Conquest. And our village would also be kept separate, this also refers to the inclusion of the new development around Great Thickthorn Farm where, again, we were promised the village boundary would be maintained by inserting a large area of woodland down and across from Bedford Road across to Great Thickthorn Farm.”

“It doesn’t need a new name. It does not need to include Harrowden Green from the Wixams. Harrowden Green should remain part of the Wixams community and Houghton Conquest should retain its historic and community identity.”

“The population is expected to double, so I would suggest an uplift of at least 50%.”

Feedback received through the public consultation was mixed in relation to the boundary arrangements and the number of councillors. These views have been considered alongside the working group’s rationale to ensure that any final draft recommendation reflects the aims of the terms of reference and the views of the community.

Draft recommendations

1. that the parish name of Houghton Conquest should remain unchanged
2. that the number of parish councillors for the parish of Houghton Conquest is increased from 10 to 11
3. create a ward of Thickthorn with 5 councillors and a ward of Village with 6 councillors (see map)

Reason for recommendations

The recommendation to reduce the number of councillors is made in accordance with the terms of reference due to the number of councillors being disproportionate to the electorate or to avoid uncontested elections and the subsequent need to co-opt members to fill the outstanding vacancies. The warding changes also provide the opportunity to ensure effective and convenient local government.