Agenda item

Andrew Flecknor, Electoral Services Manager, will speak about ward boundaries review and take your questions.

5.1    Andrew Flecknor, Electoral Services Manager spoke about ward boundaries review.

5.2       Periodic electoral review is undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

They are independent to Government and political parties and directly accountable to Parliament through the Speaker’s Committee.

The LGBCE are responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements, administrative boundaries and structure.

Their recommendations are presented to Parliament for implementation by an Order.

5.3    The aim of the LGBCE is to ensure that each council represents approximately the same number of electors.

Criteria for starting an electoral review are where:

·        30% of wards have an electoral variance of more than 10% from the average.

·        One ward has an electoral variance more than 30% from the

average.

York has one current ward with an electoral variance of -32% from the average that is Fulford Ward.

5.4    York last had a review of its electoral arrangements in 2001. The number of councillors was altered to 47 with 22 wards.

An Order came in force for the 2003 local elections.

5.5    The review will decide the pattern of wards for the entire city.

The LGBCE will decide the total number of councillors, total number of wards, names and boundaries of the wards.

5.6    The review criteria:

·        Electoral equality

o   Optimum number of electors per councillor;

o   Five year forecast of elector growth;

o   Enacted for the next local elections;

·        Community identity,

o   Parishes as building blocks;

o   Strong boundaries;

·        Effective and convenient local government

o   Coherent wards with good internal transport links.

5.7    Types of electoral reviews:

·        Type A – no expectation of change in council  size (26 to 30 weeks);

·        Type B –  expectation that any change in council size will be small (42 to 50 weeks);

·        Type C – expectation that a change in council size could be substantial (52 to 62 weeks).

5.8    The review stages:

·        Preliminary stage 6 to 8 weeks (April 2012) and it includes Council size discussion and submissions on the proposed number of councillors.

·        Information gathering stage 10 weeks. At this stage warding patterns will be invited from anyone interested. Commission will publish draft recommendations.

·        Open consultation on draft recommendations 10 to 12 weeks. Representations from public and interested parties can be made.

·        Commission publishes final recommendations. Final recommendations will be implemented by an Order in the Houses of Parliament.

5.9    What next?

          Further information can be found on the LGBCE website.

http://www.lgbce.org.uk/guidance-policy-and-publications/guidance

City of York Council will have a webpage providing information by the end of March 2012.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

Q       If one or two wards are above/below threshold why entire York has to go through the review?

A       The review of entire York has to take place every 10 years.

Q       How do you engage students in the review?

A       We have access to York University, York St John University and Askham Bryan College students registered for voting list.

At this point Cllr. Dave Taylor observed that York population has increased over the last 10 years and that is an argument for increase the number of elected members, on the other hand that will incur additional cost.

Q       What is the variation across the country regarding the number of electors represented by one councillor?

A       In Lancashire and Somerset one councillor represents 3500 electors who are spread across large area. York is unique, as it has condensed centre and extended rural area. Rural wards have bigger boundaries than those in the centre, but the same number of electors per councillor.