The Chairman welcomed all parish representatives to the Parish Council Forum.

Apologies received as listed above.

To confirm the Notes of the Parish Council Forum held on 17 July 2017.

The Notes of the Parish Council Forum held on Monday 17 July 2017 were confirmed by parish representatives and signed by the Chairman.

To discuss any matters arising from the Parish Council Forum held on 17 July 2017.

There were no matters arising from the notes of the last meeting.

To receive updates from parish representatives on organisations they represent which might be of interest to other members of the Forum.

No discussion took place under this item.

20 minutes for presentation and questions.

The LGBCE notified the council in late 2016 that it had scheduled an electoral review to commence in July 2017 under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

Rutland has been identified as having poor levels of electoral equality with 5 out of 16 wards having a variance of greater than +/-10%.

Mrs Natasha Taylor – Acting Corporate Support Team Manager for Rutland County Council provided the Forum with a presentation on the Electoral Review.

Please find the full presentation attached.

The following points were noted:

      i.        The full report on the RCC Proposal for Ward Patterns could be found on the Council website at: http://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=1649

    ii.        An electoral review could happen at any time, as they are most commonly triggered by changes in population resulting in poor levels of electoral equality.

   iii.        If there was a big increase in population after the St George’s Barracks project took place then another electoral review could take place.

   iv.        The current average elector per Councillor was 1,039 (26 Councillors). With 28 Councillors, the average per Councillor would be 1,129 electors by 2023.

    v.        Proposals were looked at that kept 26 Councillors, but they resulted in significant changes in Warding Patterns, the favoured approach was the proposal that caused as little disruption to existing boundaries as possible and that meant proposing an increase in Council size.

   vi.        RCC had put forward a proposal in response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s (LGBCE) initial consultation and Parish councils were encouraged to respond to consultations on the electoral Review with their views.  The ultimate decision maker was the LGBCE.

7. Should Parishes require any further information on the review, they could contact the LGBCE directly, or alternatively contact Natasha Taylor, RCC Officer dealing with the review (ntaylor@rutland.gov.uk).

30 minutes for presentation and questions.

Mrs Adele Wylie – Head of Legal & Corporate Governance, Rutland County Council provided the Forum with a presentation regarding ethical standards for Parish Councils.

Please find the full presentation attached.

The following points were noted:

      i.        The County Councillor code of conduct was updated in the last couple of years. Parish Councils could use this as a template if they wished.

    ii.        The code of conduct would need to be in line with the Nolan Principles.

   iii.        The code of conduct would not need to be approved by Rutland County Council, only by the Parish Council themselves.

30 minutes for presentation and questions.

Mrs Adele Wylie – Head of Legal & Corporate Governance, Rutland County Council provided the Forum with a presentation decision making within Rutland.

Please find the full presentation attached.

The following points were noted:

      i.        There were currently 7 members on each Scrutiny panel.

    ii.        County Councillors could not be a member of a Scrutiny panel and be on Cabinet.

   iii.        Only officers would have decisions delegated to them. Decisions would not be delegated to Members.

   iv.        Scrutiny panels were there to help and support the Council as well as challenge.

30 minutes for presentation and questions.

Introduction to the new Wellbeing Service.

Mr Simon Mutsaars – Chief Executive of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Rutland, provided a presentation to the Forum regarding the Rutland Community Wellbeing Service.

Please find the full presentation attached.

The following points were noted:

      i.        The Bridge dealt with generic and complex support for housing, and had a background in supporting young people and those that had a substance abuse.

    ii.        In the first 6 months there had been over 2000 referrals, which had a healthy split in gender and ages.

   iii.        Mr Mutsaars had spoken to a number of Parishes about working out capacity and Parishes would be able to point individuals to the service.

   iv.        Staff ranged from volunteers and individuals with the skills and up to date training to deal with referrals.

    v.        The service would not be a replication of the Good Neighbour scheme; the service would try to work with them.

To receive the Parish Briefing Paper (02 October 2017) on issues currently affecting Rutland (to be circulated at the Forum).

Parish Clerks and Representatives are asked to display the document on parish notice boards.

The Parish Briefing Paper for 02 October 2017 was circulated at the meeting.

To consider any other items of business which parish representatives may wish to raise.

No items were raised.

Monday 29 January 2018

Monday 16 April 2018

Potential agenda items for the Parish Council Forum should be sent to Corporate Support, Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP, or emailed to corporatesupport@rutland.gov.uk

Monday 29 January 2018

Monday 16 April 2018