Agenda item

To seek Council’s approval to approach the Local Government Boundary Commission in order to have a planned Electoral Review prior to the next District Council elections in May 2019.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 14) which outlined the processes involved in having an Electoral Review undertaken of the District.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Gordon Lundie and seconded by Councillor Graham Jones:

That the Council:

‘1.        Seek approval to approaching the Local Government Boundary Commission to undertake an Electoral Review of the District in time for the next District elections in 2019.

2.         That the review be undertaken by the Council as opposed to the two Political Groups.’

Councillor Lundie in introducing the item noted that the time had come for a boundary review to be undertaken. As part of the Administration's Manifesto there was a pledge which related to having a boundary review undertaken by the time the next District Council elections were held in May 2019.

The Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) would be asked to provide a view on whether any changes were required. The Leader noted that there had been significant growth in housing numbers since the commencement of the Racecourse development and other major sites such as Sandleford would also be developed in the near future. The LGBC would be asked to look at a number of areas including the total number of Councillors, the purpose of Councillors, existing boundaries, the number of wards and the balance between electors and their representatives.

A Members working group would be set up to ascertain the issues the Council would seek to raise with the LGBC.

Councillor Alan Macro stated that his group supported the initiative as it had been a number of years since a review had taken place. He was however concerned that his group’s concerns might not be included in the final report. He also noted his group’s preference to return to the Committee System and requested that this be factored into the proposals. Councillor Macro asked for clarification on proposed timescales.

Councillor Anthony Pick stated that he would like the review to look at parish council boundaries to ensure that the interests of each parish could be properly considered.

Councillor Graham Jones explained that he had participated in the previous review. He noted that at that time both the Council and the Opposition had submitted proposals and in fact many of the Opposition’s proposals had been adopted. While he hoped for unanimity in the response the Liberal Democrats would not be precluded from submitting their own proposal should they wish to do so.

Councillor Lundie stated that the working group would be set up shortly and it was envisaged that they would report back to the December 2015 Council meeting. The proportionality rules would not be applied to the working group and it would therefore be a cross party group although as mentioned by Councillor Jones this work would not prevent the Liberal Democrats from being able to submit a minority report should they wish to do so. The proposal to return to the Committee System would not be supported by the Conservative Group.

The Leader reassured Members that the issue of parish boundaries would be considered as set out in paragraph 3.1 (ii) on page 19 of the agenda.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.