2. Consultation
How the Council proposes to conduct consultations during the CGR
The Council has drawn up and now publishes this Terms of Reference document. This document lays out the aims of the review and the legislation that guides it.
In coming to its recommendations in the CGR the Council will need to take account of the views of local people. The Act requires the Council to consult the local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body who appears to have an interest in the review and to take the representations that are received into account by judging them against the criteria in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
The Council intends to consult with all households and interested parties in the area inviting initial submissions and seeking views on the draft proposals.
The Council will also identify any other person or body who it feels may have an interest in the review and write to them inviting them to submit their views at both stages of consultation.
This will include
- Ward Members
- Tenants and Residents Associations
- Groups and Societies
- Schools and Colleges
- Members of Parliament
- Devon Association of Local Councils
- The Police
The Council will also be pleased to receive comments from any other person or body that wishes to make representations; any such person that makes representations during the initial invitation to submit proposals will be invited to make comments in respect of the draft proposals.
As required by Section 79(3) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the District Council will notify Devon County Council that a review is to be undertaken, provide them with a copy of the Terms of Reference for the review and will consult them on the matters under review.
The Council intends to clearly publish all decisions taken in the review and the reasons for taking those decisions and will work towards the Government’s view in undertaking the review that “Community Governance Reviews should be conducted transparently so that local people and other stakeholders who may have an interest are made aware of the outcome of the decisions taken on them and the reasons behind these decisions.”
In accordance with the Act, representations received in connection with the review will be taken into account and steps taken to notify consultees of the outcome of the review by publishing them on the Council’s website at www.eastdevon.gov.uk , through general press releases, public notice advertisements in local newspapers, placing key documents on public deposit at Council offices and will communicate the final outcome of the review by writing to all households in the area affected by the review.