Parish Review

The Council embarked upon a review of the civil parishes in its area in December 2003, and invited proposals from any interested organisation or individual for alterations to parish boundaries. The main purpose of the Review was to ensure that boundaries continued both to reflect the identities and interests of communities and to facilitate the most convenient and effective local government. The last such review had been conducted in the early 1980s.Several proposals were submitted and the Council made draft proposals in each case which were published in September 2005. The Council invited comments, observations and /or representations thereon to be submitted by 30 November 2005. The Council then reconsidered each draft proposal in the light of the submissions received by that date, and made final recommendations in all cases at their meeting on 27 February 2006. These have been forwarded to the Department for Communities and Local Government for consideration and determination. There are three main areas where the Council recommends changes to parish boundaries, namely-

• The creation of a new parish for Walcott which is currently located in the parish of Happisburgh
• Realignment of the boundary which separates the parishes of Beeston Regis and Runton which will have the affect of transferring to Runton the properties along Cromer Road which are currently located in Beeston Regis
• Realignment of the boundary which separates the parishes of Gresham and Matlaske which will have the affect of transferring to Matlaske the properties in North Barningham which are currently located in Gresham.

Proposals were also considered but rejected for the boundaries separating the parishes of Antingham & Southrepps, Barton Turf & Neatishead, Briston & Melton Constable, Erpingham & Wickmere, He Houghton & Raynham, Pudding Norton & Ryburgh, Roughton & Cromer, Southrepps & Northrepps, Scunthorpe & Fakenham, Swafield & Knapton, and Tattersett & Dunton.
A copy of the Council's Parish Review Report is available for public inspection in the Council's offices at Cromer, North Walsham and Fakenham. However, if any organisations or individuals wish to make any further representations in respect of any of the Council's final recommendations they must write to Mrs S Neumann, Democracy and Local Governance Division, Zone 5/G9, Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU.
The final decision rests with the Secretary of State, and although the timescale for his determination is not known it is hoped that any boundary changes agreed will be implemented in time for the next Parish Council elections which will take place in May 2007.