Issue - meetings

Polling District and Places Review

Purpose

To consider the outcome of the review of polling districts and places/stations undertaken within the District.

Recommendations

That Full Council resolves to:

1. Approve the scheme of polling districts and polling places/stations set out in the Annex A.

2. Approve the proposed changes to polling stations as set out in the annexe B and Annex C.

3. Delegate authority to the Returning Officer to make any further changes as necessary to enable the efficient and effective conduct of elections.

4. Authorise the Electoral Registration Officer to make any changes as are necessary to the Register of Electors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to consider the outcome of the review of polling districts and places/stations undertaken within the District.

Councillor Evemy in the absence of the Leader and as Chair of the Boundary Review Working Group introduced this item and outlined the following points:

A polling district and places review was required for Council to complete in consultation with Town and Parish Councils. It was highlighted that the Boundary Review Working Group had considered this as part of its work with the Electoral Services Manager and the Chief Executive.
It was noted that the responses to the proposed polling district and places in Annex A had prompted some changes to be made.
There were a number of changes to polling places and stations oulined at paragraph 5.2 which included Baunton, Quenington, and New Mills Ward in Cirencester.
It was also outlined that consultation on a relocation of the polling station in Driffield had taken place but no changes were being proposed at this time.

Councillor Hodgkinson seconded the item and welcomed the changes for Baunton within the Ward which were supported.

There were questions around the North and South Parliamentary constituencies which cross the Stratton Ward and the arrangements for voting. The Electoral Services Manager confirmed that the Baunton Lane was now part of the Stratton ward, but this hadn’t moved in the new Parliamentary Boundary proposals and will stay in North Cotswolds. It was noted that there were options to manage the anomaly created by the two reviews but that this needed further conversations with members and the Returning Officer.

There were comments around ensuring that voters had appropriate access to a polling station and managing the costs of a polling station.

There were comments around the work of the Electoral Services Team and the large amount of work already undertaken.

There were questions on the proposals for a new polling area for Tetbury and the warding. The Electoral Services Manager confirmed that polling stations were kept under review and any changes could then be brought back to Council as part of the wider proposals.

It was noted in Annex A that a clerical error at column two that parts of Tetbury West noted as Tetbury East. The Electoral Services Manager confirmed this had been updated.

RESOLVED: That Full Council

1. APPROVED the scheme of polling districts and polling places/stations set out in the Annex A.

2. APPROVED the proposed changes to polling stations as set out in the annexe B and Annex C.

3. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Returning Officer to make any further changes as necessary to enable the efficient and effective conduct of elections.

4. AGREED TO AUTHORISE the Electoral Registration Officer to make any changes as are necessary to the Register of Electors.

Voting Record

For 28, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 6 Absent/Did not vote

For	Against	Abstention	Absent/ Did not vote
Andrew Maclean			Angus Jenkinson
Chris Twells			David Cunningham
Claire Bloomer			Dilys Neill
Clare Turner			Gary Selwyn
Daryl Corps ... view the full minutes text for item 8

Issue - meetings

Polling District and Places Review

Meeting: 24/01/2024 - Council (Item 8)

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