Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to enable the Committee to make a response to the Boundary Commission for England’s consultation on proposals for changing the Parliamentary Constituencies.

The Democratic Services Manager explained in detail the proposed changes of the Parliamentary Constituencies and used geographical maps to highlight which areas would be affected as a result.

Councillors asked many questions about the implications of the proposed changes. Concern was raised for the negative impact that the proposed changes may have on residents as well as the challenging administrative issues for Elections staff.

It was proposed by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Terrie Metcalfe:

“That the draft response to the consultation set out in the report on the proposed Parliamentary Constituency boundaries be submitted to the Boundary Commission for England, subject to the penultimate sentence being amended to ‘The Council would prefer to see the Constituencies made up of wards in no more than two local authority areas.’

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)  That the draft response to the consultation set out in the report on the proposed Parliamentary Constituency boundaries be submitted to the Boundary Commission for England, subject to the penultimate sentence being amended to ‘The Council would prefer to see the Constituencies made up of wards in no more than two local authority areas.’