Update from Arlesey Town Council

ArleseyTown Council

Arlesey Residents; Have your say..

Central Bedfordshire Council is conducting a consultation, following a request from Arlesey Town Council to reduce the total number of council seats from 12 to 7 after difficulty attracting enough candidates to stand for election at the 2019 parish elections. Some parishes are, on occasion, unable able to attract sufficient candidates to stand for election. This can lead to uncontested elections, where no vote is required because there is space for all the candidates.

A Community Governance Review comprises two stages of consultation. CBC has completed the first stage, in which people’s views were sought on a proposal to change the number of Town Councillors. Analysis of stage one consultation feedback indicated a preference to reduce the numbers of councillors, CBC’s General Purposes Committee considered a report following analysis and is now recommending a reduction in requirement from twelve to seven Arlesey Town Councillors. This second consultation stage is open until 30 October 2022 and asks people their thoughts on this recommendation.

Cllr Dixon our Executive Member for Sustainability and Transformation, said: “This is a chance for Arlesey residents to have their say on how their local community is represented as part of the democratic process so please do take the time to share your thoughts. ” The General Purposes Committee also agreed to shorten the stage two consultation period from 12 weeks, to eight. The reason for this was laid out in the report for General Purposes Committee visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations

After this eight-week consultation period, a feedback report will be compiled and presented to the General Purposes Committee again with a final decision made by the committee on 15 December 2022 in a sufficient time for the next town and parish council elections in May 2023. To have your say, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.

For paper copies, email customer.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 8301. WALKS

FOR HEALTH

Would you like to join a friendly local group for a weekly

local walk? Walks start at 10.45am

Meeting points for OCTOBER:

6th, 13th Scout Hut, Baldock Road, Stotfold

20th, 27th The Crown PH, the Green, Stotfold.

For details contact Beth Overfield 01462 815672