Issue - meetings

Establishment of a Working Group for Boundary Reviews

Purpose

To seek the approval of Council to create a Working Group to oversee the Local Government Boundary Review and Polling District Review which are due to take place in the next 2 years and agree Terms of Reference for the Group.

Recommendations

That Council resolves to:

1. Agree to the creation of a Working Group for Boundary Reviews

2. Agree the Draft Terms of Reference for the group outlined in Annex A

3. Note that Group Leaders are asked to confirm the nominated members to the Electoral Services Manager or Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to seek the approval of Council to create a Working Group to oversee the Local Government Boundary Review and Polling District Review which are due to take place in the next 2 years and agree Terms of Reference for the Group.

The Leader, Councillor Joe Harris introduced the report.

It was noted that the last review of the boundaries for the District Wards was in 2015. It was highlighted that the 32 wards covered by 34 Councillors represented at that time around 2000 electors with a 10% variance for individual wards.

It was highlighted that changes that had taken place since 2015 had meant a varying of the size of wards. It was highlighted that there were ten wards in the District over the 10% size variance set out by the Boundary Commission.

It was noted that a request to the Local Government Boundary Commission had been made to review the size of the wards in the District, and this work was set to be completed in good time before the next set of District elections in 2027.

It was highlighted that a Polling District review was also required every five years, to look at polling stations and make sure they are fit for purpose.

It was noted that the two reviews would look at the number of Members, the size of the Wards and the polling station location within the District.

Councillor Stowe then seconded the report and provided comments on this item.

It was noted that a democratic deficit could emerge with the larger seats like Campden and Vale having over 2,600 electors per Member.

Members welcomed that work had already started on this issue following the May 2023 local elections.

There were various comments by Councillors that welcomed the engagement of all political groups on a cross-party basis.

It was noted by Council that there was an opportunity to review some polling stations and look at future requirements.

It was noted by the Council that the 10% variance was a statutory figure, but there was an opportunity on a local level to take house building into account.

There were various comments about dual Member wards and how these would need to be discussed as part of the reviews.

The Chair then asked each Group Leader for their Member nominations for the Boundary Reviews Working Group:

Councillor Joe Harris as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group confirmed the following Members: Councillors Paul Hodgkinson, Mike Evemy, Patrick Coleman and Clare Muir.

Councillor Stowe as Leader of the Conservative Group then confirmed the following Members: Councillors Stowe and Councillor Fowles.

Councillor Maclean was then confirmed as the nomination from the Green Group.

Voting Record

32 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 2 Absent/Did not vote

For	Against	Abstention	Absent/Did not vote
Andrew Maclean			Jon Wareing
Angus Jenkinson			Ray Brassington
Chris Twells
Claire Bloomer
Clare Muir
Clare Turner
Daryl Corps
David Cunningham
David Fowles
Dilys Neill
Gary Selwyn
Gina Blomefield
Helen Mansilla
Ian Watson
Jeremy Theyer ... view the full minutes text for item 60

Issue - meetings

Establishment of a Working Group for Boundary Reviews

Meeting: 20/09/2023 - Council (Item 60)

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