Issue - items at meetings - Protocol for Ward Name Changes

Report of the Chief Executive (copy attached).

RESOLVED –

(1)         That consideration of a proposal to change a ward name be triggered by submission to the Council of a petition signed by 5% of residents, or 500 people, whichever is greater, who are on the Electoral Register, and who provide a permanent address that can be verified as being within the ward in question.

(2)         That, further to recommendation 2.1, the relevant ward councillors be consulted and their views taken into account before a report is put to the Governance Committee to consider authorising a formal consultation on the proposal.

85.1         The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the proposals for a process for triggering the consideration of a possible ward name change.

85.2         The Chairman thanked officers for the clear report. He added that the 5% threshold trigger was appropriate and that it was important to keep ward councillors informed from the beginning of the process.

85.3         The Head of Law advised that the threshold with those suggested in other statutory guidance for local government. He also reminded Members that any decision on whether to proceed with a consultation would continue to be made by the Committee.

85.4         RESOLVED –

(1)         That consideration of a proposal to change a ward name be triggered by submission to the Council of a petition signed by 5% of residents, or 500 people, whichever is greater, who are on the Electoral Register, and who provide a permanent address that can be verified as being within the ward in question.

(2)         That, further to recommendation (1), the relevant ward councillors be consulted and their views taken into account before a report is put to the Governance Committee to consider authorising a formal consultation on the proposal.