Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which detailed the planned changes to the borough’s Ward Boundaries and the impact this would have on Local Area Forums.

            It was noted that changes to the borough’s current Ward boundaries were due to come into effect on 7^th May 2020, however, following the postponement of the 2020 local elections due to COVID-19, those boundary changes would come into effect on 6^th May 2021. The boundary changes would have a number of implications for Local Area Forums, including the Area Forum ‘footprints’ the population levels within each Forum area and the budget allocations. The report provided Members with details of those implications.

            It was anticipated that a number of Area Forums would have some level of budget remaining that would be carried forward to the 2021/22 financial year. It was proposed that any Area Forum budget underspend at 31^st March 2021 would be split down to Ward level and allocated to the new Ward that was most closely aligned. In addition where any current Ward boundaries alter as a result of the planned changes, the amount of any budget underspend carried forward would be based upon the proportion of Electorate that made up the old Ward that was transferring to the new one.  

            RESOLVED: That

1.    The proposals for dealing with the impacts that Ward boundary changes will have upon Local Area Forums as set out within the report be endorsed; and

2.    A report be presented to the Executive Board recommending that:

a.    Halton’s current seven Local Area Forums be disbanded with effect from 5^th May 2021;

b.    Six new Local Area Forums, as set out in Paragraph 4.1, be established in Halton with effect from 6^th May 2021;

c.    The 2021/22 Local Area Forum budget be allocated as set out within Table 1; and

d.    Any Local Area Forum budget remaining as at 31^st March 2021 be carried forward and allocated as set out within Table 2.