Agenda item

To receive and consider a response to the boundary review consultation, regarding ward boundary patterns, as set out in Annex 1 of the report and recommended by the Member Working Group.

Councillor J. Durrant, Executive Member for Community Safety and Chairman of the Boundary Review Member Working Group, informed the Council that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had, earlier in the year, announced proposals to reduce the council size from 51 to 45 as part of its review of Reigate and Banstead’s size, electoral arrangements and ward boundaries.

Councillor J. Durrant explained that the LGBCE had published proposed ward boundaries, following an initial consultation, in June 2018. It was noted that LGBCE had been consulting on these proposals and the deadline for commenting on warding patterns and names was 13 August 2018.

Councillor J. Durrant explained that the Council had established a cross-party, Member Working Group, which had supported the Council’s activities in relation to the LGBCE review. It was highlighted that the response to the consultation, set out in Annex 1 of the report, represented the collective work of all Members. Cllr J. Durrant placed on record his thanks to Members, and the Working Group in particular, for their time and effort and paid tribute to officers for their support and guidance.

In drawing ward boundaries it was noted that the LGBCE needed to balance the following statutory criteria: delivering electoral equality; reflecting local community interests and identities; and promoting effective and convenient local government.

Councillor J. Durrant informed the Council that the discussions at Working Group meetings had been very positive and had allowed Members to use their combined local knowledge to better realise the affinities local residents had and to suggest appropriate changes to the proposals put forward by the LGBCE.

It was noted that the Working Group had identified some areas of significant concern, such as the splits in Kingswood and Woodmansterne. However, it was also highlighted that many smaller changes had been identified to help better reflect local communities.

It was explained that the following minor amendments would be made to the Council’s response prior to submission:

-       The addition of Burgh Heath to the Kingswood, Chipstead and Woodmansterne ward name.

-       The estimated population for Banstead Village would be amended to 7,645. This was in accordance with the forecast electorate numbers calculated on the boundary mapping tool used to map the proposed amendments.

-       The correction of typos in relation to Horley East and Salfords.               

Cllr J. Durrant moved the Recommendations set out in the report which was seconded by Councillor K. Foreman.

During the discussion that followed a number of issues were considered, including:

-       The cross-party support for work carried out by the Member Working Group and the response to the boundary review consultation, set out in Annex 1 of the report. 

-       That feedback from the local community had helped inform the Council’s response and that Councillors had undertaken various community engagement activities.

-       The importance of promoting the LGBCE consultation and encouraging all residents to provide a response to help ensure the final proposal, due in October 2018, best reflected communities across the borough. 

In addition a number of issues were raised by other Councillors regarding specific aspects of the proposal. This included a request for the Council’s submission to include a list of all anomalies highlighted at an earlier stage of the review. In response, Councillor J. Durrant suggested this could be addressed as part of the delegation on minor amendments. This was agreed and it was;    

RESOLVED

1.    That the response to the boundary review consultation, set out in Annex 1 of the Report of the Head of Corporate Policy, Performance and Legal and recommended by the Member Working Group, be approved for submission to the Local Authority Boundary Commission for England;

2.    That the Electoral Services Manager be authorised, in consultation with the Chairman of the Boundary Review Member Working Group and all Group Leaders, to make any minor amendments to the response prior to submission.