Agenda item

Report from the Director of Legal, Electoral and Registration Services.

The Chairman invited Councillor Richard Clewer, Chairman of the Electoral Review Committee, to introduce the report.

It was explained that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had announced a further limited consultation in respect of a pattern of unitary divisions in the Southern and South-Western parts of the council area, rather than publish their Final Recommendations as previously intended. The new consultation would run from 2 July 2019 to 29 July 2019. As the Electoral Review Committee had not had sufficient time to consider the new recommendations and draft a response for Full Council, and with the alternative being a special Full Council meeting in late July, it was recommended that the Council delegate to the Electoral Review Committee the responsibility to approve a response to the LGBCE.

Changes were also recommended to the terms of reference of the Electoral Review Committee to enable it to properly prepare for and oversee any Community Governance Reviews which would take place at some stage.

A proposal to delegate responsibility for a response to the LGBCE to the Electoral Review Committee and amend the terms of reference of the committee was moved by Councillor Clewer, and was seconded by Councillor Gavin Grant, Vice-Chairman of the Electoral Review Committee.

Group leaders were then invited to comment. Councillor Philip Whitehead stated the Electoral Review Committee had done exemplary work on a cross party basis, and he was content to delegate responsibility for a further response to it. Councillor Ian Thorn supported the proposal and noted that there was some frustration at the delays to the process imposed by the LGBCE, but that if possible the Council speaking with one voice on the matter would be beneficial.

Members then debated the proposal. It was raised by some members that the Council had compromised on its previous submission to achieve a reasonable proposal, but that the latest proposals from the LGBCE were very unsuitable for local communities in some areas. The collaborative working of the Electoral Review Committee was also praised, as well concerns from some members that the proposals of the LGBCE themselves exceeded the standard limits and rules under the criteria that the Council had followed, and that this could indicate additional flexibility to resolve some matters.

Councillor Clewer acknowledged the concerns relating to specific areas raised during the debate, which would be taken on board by the Electoral Review Committee as it prepared a response on behalf of the Council.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

1)    That Council delegates the preparation and approval of a response to the latest consultation of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to the Electoral Review Committee, to include approval of any final consequential changes to the submission documentation to the Director of Legal, Electoral and Registration Services after consultation with the Chairman of the Electoral Review Committee.

2)    To approve amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Electoral Review Committee as detailed in Appendix A, and include them within Part 3B of the Constitution.

Votes in favour of motion    (76)

Votes against the motion    (0)

Votes in abstention              (0)