Agenda item

To receive a report from the Elections and Democratic Services Manager on the Polling Districts and Polling Places Review Consultation Outcome.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee noted that each authority is required to undertake a review of all of the polling districts and polling places in its area on a regular basis. The last full review the Committee was informed had been undertaken in October 2019 an. it is now necessary to conduct the next scheduled review which needs to be completed between 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2025. The Committee noted results of the formal consultation exercise detailing the representations made as summarised within the report.

Following comments from Councillors Blackwell; Howell and Jennings the Elections and Democratic Services Manager reported that the purpose of this report is to acquaint members with details of the process involved with a statutory review of polling districts and polling places within the District and consider details of the representations made during the formal consultation process before recommending approval by the HDC the Schedule of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2024.

The Committee noted that the Electoral Commission Act 2006, places a duty on each authority to undertake a review of all of the polling districts and polling places in its area on a regular basis. The last such review had been completed in 2019 and therefore it is now necessary to conduct the next scheduled review which needs to be completed between 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2025.

Arising from a number of points raised by councillors it was noted that all wards within Huntingdonshire are divided into polling districts which form the basis upon which the register of electors is produced. Most are defined by parish boundaries, but there are exceptions. The Committee understood that HDC is responsible for dividing its area into polling districts and for keeping polling districts under review. HDC must also define a polling place for each of its polling districts within which the polling station is located.

The Committee was reminded that the details of the process of consultation and timetable was presented to the Committee on 27th September 2023 and the Committee authorised the commencement of the polling districts and polling places review in accordance with the consultation document.

Councillors noted that a formal consultation exercise had been undertaken and hosted on the HDC website from 2nd October 2023, running until 27th November 2023, whereby all residents, County and District Councillors, MPs, Town and Parish Councils, Returning Officers, Political Agents/parties, and local disability groups had been asked to make comments on the existing arrangements for polling places and polling stations. A small number of proposed changes had been set out in the consultation document and focussed on (a). Creation of a new polling district for Lady Olivia Centre, Brampton; (b). Merging polling districts FG and FK - Stow Longa; (c). Merging of polling districts DZ and EA - St Ives North; (d) the Creation of a new polling district for Wintringham Park, St Neots; and (e). Creation of a new polling district for Bearscroft, Godmanchester

A total of 7 responses were received and detailed at Appendix A in the Consultation Responses Schedule. Arising from the representations made the changes outlined in a) – d) are being confirmed as proposals for approval and in response to two representations made in respect of the proposal for Godmanchester, the responses confirmed that no changes were required to the current arrangements of polling districts or polling places.

Following comments by (1) Councillor Gray regarding the concerns that had been highlighted by St Neots Town Council in respect of electoral arrangements surrounding the town wards the Committee noted that this was out of scope of this review and will therefore be investigated further after the review; and (2) Councillor Hodgson-Jones regarding the new constituency boundaries for Cambridgeshire the Committee noted the Boundary Commission once it has completed this review will look at the constituency boundaries for the Parish and Town Councils.

Following deliberation, the Committee RESOLVED

a.  to note the outcome of the Polling Districts and Polling Places Review and consultation undertaken.

b.  that the Council approve the Schedule of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2024 as appended to the report now submitted.

c.  that the Schedule of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2024 as appended to the report now submitted to Council for approval.