AN IDENTITY crisis could see the end of Northop Community Council after more than a century.
An application has been submitted to Flintshire County Council to change the name of Northop Community Council – which took over from the historic Northop Parish Council in 1974 – to Northop and Sychdyn Community Council.
The area has been governed by a council named exclusively ‘Northop’ for 131 years, since Northop Parish Council was first formed in 1894.
But residents of Sychdyn, which falls under the councl’s catchment area, approached Cllr Laura Heywood seeking better representation and acknowledgement for their community.
Currently the balance of councillors on Northop Community Council is made up of seven Sychdyn councillors and six representing Northop.
The Sychdyn members felt it was crucial the council’s name reflected both Northop and Sychdyn communities, suggesting that residents in Sychdyn would support with the decision.
Cllr Heywood’s motion was seconded by Cllr Jane Hampson at the council’s meeting in October and supported unanimously.
On Wednesday this week Flintshire County Council will consider whether to approve the change – with officers recommending permission be granted.
If the change goes ahead, Flintshire County Council will be required to give notice to the Welsh Minister, Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, Director General of the Ordinance Survey and the Registrar General for England and Wales.
It must also be published in the community by Northop Community Council.
Changing the name of the council does not affect the area it governs or its rights or obligations. If there are any outstanding legal proceedings involving the council they will also remain unaffected.
If approved the costs to the local authority of advertising the changes will be charged back to the community council.
