Rotherham parish boundary to remain following public consultation

Ravensfield Parish Council presented a petition to Rotherham Council in May 2019, requesting that the parish boundary be moved south, so land currently under Bramley Parish Council would be transferred to Ravenfield.

The proposal was to transfer a section of land between Moor Lane South and Lidget Lane from Bramley parish to Ravenfield, part of which is earmarked for development.

Whichever parish the development site falls under would likely receive funding from a community infrastructure levy from the new development.

And Bramley Parish councillors, in a letter to Rotherham Council, said they believe Ravenfield council’s ‘only motivation to have the boundary moved is financial gain’, and that a review of consultation responses received by Bramley council recognise this as ‘an audacious and avaricious manoeuvre by Ravenfield council’.

A report to Rotherham Council recommended no change to the current arrangement after public consultation, and that a further period of consultation should be undertaken in respect of the proposed outcome of the community governance review.

A public consultation attracted 520 responses and found Bramley residents would prefer the boundary to remain the same.

It was felt the residents of the proposed development would use the facilities and services in Bramley, and therefore Bramley council should receive any community infrastructure levy money from it.

The consultation also found that Bramley residents ‘felt that there would be increased traffic from the proposed development through their village, and that therefore they should benefit from increased income to their parish council’.

However, Ravenfield residents were in favour of amending the boundary, and felt the residents of the development on Moor Lane South would be more likely to use the facilities and services in Ravenfield, and therefore Ravenfield Parish Council should benefit from the levy and precept.

Bal Nahal, Rotherham Council head of legal services, recommended the border remain where it is, which was backed by councillors.

Further consultation will now take place, with residents’ views sought.

Another report will be brought back to council in September 2020, taking into account the further consultation, with a final recommendation.

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