Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the outcome of an internal consultation exercise on the Council's future electoral arrangements.

Further to Minute No. 08/07 and by way of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with details of the outcome of an internal consultation exercise undertaken with District Council Members on the Council's future electoral arrangements.  Members were reminded of details of an opportunity available to the District Council to move elections by thirds to whole Council elections and the associated financial implications of such a move. 

Following consultation undertaken with District Council Members on potential changes to the electoral arrangements, the Panel were advised that arising from the responses received the consensus of opinion was to make no change to the existing electoral arrangements.

Having discussed the relative merits and disadvantages of elections by thirds and by whole Council, the Panel

RESOLVED

  (a)  that no change be made to the existing electoral arrangements;

  (b)  that the Cabinet and Council be requested to make the necessary budgetary variation in the forthcoming Medium Term Plan to meet the associated costs of continuing to hold elections by thirds; and

  (c)  that an investigation be undertaken via the Department for Communities and Local Government as to whether elections for the multi-member wards could be held on the same day every four years.

Councillor D Harty presented the Report of the Elections Panel held on 27th August 2008.

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In connection with Item No. 1, Councillor Harty encouraged all Members of the Council to respond to an invitation for comments on the possibility of changes to electoral arrangements in Huntingdonshire.  It was confirmed that wider consultation on any proposed new arrangements would follow.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meeting of the Elections Panel held on 27th August 2008 be received and adopted.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration on future electoral arrangements in Huntingdonshire.

By way of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with recent legislative changes that would enable the Council to alter its electoral cycle.  Currently the Council undertook elections for a third of its Members each year followed by a fallow year when no District elections were held.  The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 had made it possible to move to whole Council elections and, should the need arise, to revert to elections by thirds.  Having noted the procedure that would need to be followed should a change in the electoral cycle need to be made, the implications of a change for town and parish councils, the likely financial implications and other consequential considerations, Members were informed that, if the Council decided to move to whole Council elections, it would need to pass a resolution to that effect by the end of 2010.

Before coming to a view on whether the Council should change its electoral cycle, the Panel requested that Members were consulted on what would be suitable electoral arrangements for the Council and that the outcome of that consultation was reported to a future meeting.