Review of parish and town councils in Kirklees

In 2008/09 Kirklees Council carried out a review of the five parish and town councils in Kirklees. This was called a 'Community Governance Review'. The review covered: Denby Dale, Mirfield, Meltham, Kirkburton and Holme Valley. The review provided an opportunity for people to give their views on whether parish and town councils:

• reflect the identities and interests of the community in their area
• are effective
• are convenient.

Details of the review and the review outcomes can be seen in the full report which was considered by Kirklees Council on 29 July 2009 (See item 9: References from Cabinet/Committee). The main changes agreed were:

• No change

• Minor changes to the parish boundary with Kirkburton Parish, to transfer part of Thurstonland village from the Holme Valley Parish Council area to Kirkburton Parish Council. This is shown as area "A" this map

• Minor changes to the parish boundary with Holme Valley Parish, to transfer part of Thurstonland village from the Holme Valley Parish Council area to Kirkburton Parish Council. This is shown as area "A" on this map
• Minor changes to Kirkburton Parish Council ward boundaries which:
  • Transfer a small area of land (Area "X" on this map) from Lepton Ward to Lepton and Whitley Upper Ward
  • Transfer a small area of land (Area "Y" on this map) from Lepton and Whitley Upper Ward to Lepton Ward
• Revise the number of councillors representing some wards, so that the new councillor representation will be: Flockton (2), Kirkburton (4), Kirkheaton (4), Lepton (5), Lepton and Whitley Upper (2), Shelley (3), Shepley (3),Thurstonland and Farnley Tyas (2)

• Minor changes to the parish boundary, which will mean than two areas (marked "B" and "C" on this map) move out of the parish and become unparished

• No change

Kirklees Council have now completed the formal procedures which are required to enable the changes to come into effect at the next parish council elections (May 2011) - please see the formal reorganisation order

A representation has also been made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) for consequential changes to Kirklees district ward boundaries. This is to ensure that the changes to parish boundaries are mirrored by changes to Kirklees ward boundaries where applicable. The LGBCE have now given their approval to these changes, which will come into effect at the next elections in May 2011 - please see the LGBCE order for details of the changes to Kirklees ward boundaries.

The review process also highlighted a number of general or cross cutting issues relevant across the parished areas. Whilst these were not formal outcomes of the community governance review, Kirklees Council endorsed a number of additional recommendations to improve the effectiveness of community governance arrangements in Kirklees. These recommendations are summarised in Appendix 1 to the full report.

The new arrangements outlined above will come into effect at the next elections in May 2011.

If you want more information contact: John Heneghan 01484 221779 john.heneghan@kirklees.gov.uk If you wish to read more detailed information and guidance about community governance reviews please follow the link: Communities and Local Government guidance on Community Governance Reviews - the official central government guidance on undertaking a review.