Agenda item

The Leader of the Council submitted a report relating to the Local Government Boundary Commission Council Size Submission. She said that East Herts last had a boundary review in 1998 and the report was the first step in the current boundary review process. The review was necessary as the population had increased and some wards were out of step with the Commission’s requirements. Councillor Haysey said that Councillor Snowdon had worked with the opposition groups to get an agreement to keep the 50 seats on the Council.

Councillor Haysey proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Bolton.

Councillor Goldspink proposed an amendment to the recommendations and was seconded by Councillor Redfern. The amendment was as follows:

“Delete Recommendation (B) completely, and then replace it with a new (B) which states “However, if the Head of Legal and Democratic Services considers that changes should be made to the Council’s Submission, he must refer the matter back to the Full Council and ask for a further vote.”

Councillor Haysey said that she could not accept the proposed amendment. She said that the timeline for the review was laid out in the report on page 554 and Council would not be meeting again until October 2021. The dates were set by the Local Government Boundary Commission and the approval of the report was an important part of the process.

Councillor Goldspink explained her reasons for the amendment and highlighted that Council could hold an extraordinary meeting if necessary to approve any amendments to the submission. She felt that recommendation (B) in the report was undemocratic and any alterations should be agreed by Council, not delegated to two people.

Councillor Redfern supported the points raised by Councillor Goldspink. She said there was consultation with all political groups when the submission was in development and had reached an agreement on 50 seats on the Council. She said that by delegating to the Leader and Head of Legal and Democratic Services, it would ignore the democracy of the Council.

The motion to amend recommendation (B) in the report, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting, and upon a vote being taken, it was declared LOST.

Councillor Bell proposed and Councillor Redfern seconded another amendment to recommendation (B). The amendment was as follows:

“That Council agree cross party delegation to the Leader and Head of Legal and Democratic Services”

Councillor Haysey thanked Councillor Bell for her suggestion but said that decisions like in the report were often delegated if any minor amendments needed to be made. She said she was more than happy to stick with the recommendations as written in the report.

Councillor Townsend said it was a minor amendment and would only go to support, encourage and convince residents that most things are considered.

The motion to amend recommendation (B) in the report, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting, and upon a vote being taken, it was declared LOST.

The motion to support the recommendations in the report, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting, and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the submission on Council Size, as set out in Appendix A be approved;

(B)   Council agree a delegation to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final changes to the Council Size Submission as may be necessary; and

(C)   authorisation be given to the Chief Executive to submit the Council’s Submission on Council Size to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.