Community Governance Review - Draft Recommendation 4(e) - Kettering, Ise Lodge and Hanwood Park

Overview

Summary of Proposal

The Kettering Town Council proposal suggested changes to internal ward boundaries, an amendment to the external parish boundary where it borders with Barton Seagrave, a realignment of councillors and changes to town council ward names.

Kettering Town Council Proposal Ref: KET_3

Ise Lodge & Hanwood Park Wards:

The Town Council’s preferred long term proposal is to create a new Hanwood Park Ward that sits east of Warkton Lane and a new Ise Lodge Ward that sits west of Warkton Lane. The number of members for the redefined Ise Lodge Ward to remain at three. The number of Members for Hanwood Park ward to be determined.

An alternative proposal submitted by the Town Council is to extend the Town Council boundary southwards to encompass the land between Cranford Road and the A14, except for the properties that face onto Barton Road and which have a long standing association with Barton Seagrave.

Alternative proposal Ref: KET_4_ Hanwood Park

The proposal submitted by a member of the public put forward several options to revise the Hanwood Park and Ise Lodge warding arrangements, including combining the two wards into a single ward and transferring part of Barton Seagrave Parish south of Cranford Road into Kettering. Alternative boundary options along Cranford Road, Barton Road and Warkton Lane were also suggested to balance future development with existing community ties.

These proposals should be considered alongside those submitted by Kettering Town Council, as well as representations submitted by Barton Seagrave Parish Council and a number of local residents who are opposed to any changes to the parish boundary. The proposal did not specify the number of councillors that would represent the proposed Hanwood Park ward.

Summary of response from Barton Seagrave parish council: during the initial consultation phase the parish council raised objections to any proposed reclassification, amalgamation or territorial reduction arising from this Community Governance Review.

Barton Seagrave parish council’s proposal is to recommend no changes to the existing parish arrangements. The council recommends that Barton Seagrave remains a standalone parish authority, is represented by 8 councillors and that the boundaries match and accurately reflect the Barton Seagrave parish boundary.

View the full submission (CGR 13, page 19) by Kettering Town Council.

View a map (Draft Recommendation 4a-4f, page 9) of the proposal.

Observations

The current parish boundary between Kettering and Barton Seagrave was established relatively recently following a Community Governance Review undertaken before the creation of North Northamptonshire Council. Subsequently, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) review of North Northamptonshire Council’s electoral arrangements created the North Northamptonshire Council wards of Barton Seagrave & Burton Latimer and Ise.

As part of that review, the LGBCE also recognised the need to establish a Hanwood Park ward for Kettering Town Council. Although the Hanwood Park ward falls within the North Northamptonshire Council ward of Barton Seagrave & Burton Latimer, it lies within the parish boundary of Kettering and therefore required separate representation within the town council’s warding arrangements.

Limited housing growth is expected within Hanwood Park Ward over the next five years, with the remaining future development planned as part of Phase 2 of the East Kettering Sustainable Urban Extension. As a result, no significant increase in electorate is anticipated in the short term. Boundary arrangements could be reviewed again once the impact of Phase 2 is clearer.

Transferring properties within the East Kettering Urban Extension from Barton Seagrave Parish to Kettering could reduce the Barton Seagrave electorate by approximately 950 electors. Consultation responses demonstrated little support for such a change, with 14 of the 15 completed submissions from Barton Seagrave residents opposing any amendment to the existing parish boundary.

Establishing revised Hanwood Park and Ise Lodge wards could result in Kettering Town Council ward boundaries crossing those of North Northamptonshire Council. This would be contrary to Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) guidance, as misaligned ward boundaries can create voter confusion and add complexity to the administration of elections. Furthermore, any consequential amendments to North Northamptonshire Council ward boundaries would require approval from the LGBCE.

Draft Recommendation (Recommendation 4e) - Kettering - Ise Lodge & Hanwood Park

e) That the warding pattern for Kettering Town Council as per the map attached at Appendix D be taken forward for further consultation.

Reason(s) for recommendation - Further views are sought on the proposal, particularly in relation to how well it reflects community identity and interests, supports community cohesion, and contributes to effective and convenient local governance.

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