Agenda item

The Leader of the Council presented the Electoral Review of East Herts report. She said that the Local Government Boundary Commission had completed its Electoral Review of East Herts and published its final recommendations in August 2022. In summary, she said that the Commission had agreed to leave the number of councillors representing East Herts at 50, however from May 2023, the District will be split into 26 wards instead of 30.

Councillor Haysey said that the report sets out a number of actions necessary including a Polling District and Polling Place review which will be undertaken between now and January 2023. She said that Members were encouraged to contribute to the review especially if they were aware of any local premises suitable to be used as a polling station. She said the register would be republished in February 2023 to incorporate these changes.

Councillor Haysey said that there were a couple of areas where the council may wish to carry out a Community Governance Review on certain parish boundaries. A list of suggested changes had been provided by Ware Town Council however, it was not possible to conclude all the statutory stages in time to implement before the May 2023 elections so it was proposed that Officers report to Council after the elections with the proposed terms of reference for the reviews.

Councillor Haysey proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Snowdon seconded the proposal and reserved his right to speak.

Councillor Curtis referred to the Community Governance Review in Ware. He said that not all suggested changes were included in the report and asked for clarification that all recommendations would be considered.

Councillor Haysey confirmed that they would.

Councillor Dumont said he was not convinced by the name of the new ward Great Amwell and Stansted but he said the new ward represents both areas better.

Councillor Crystall asked what the process was for letting Members know the results of the polling district review.

Councillor Haysey said that it was still under discussion about how to communicate to Members.

Councillor Kemp said he appreciated the prompt response to Ware Town Council’s request for a Community Governance Review.

Councillor Snowdon said that the ward names were decided by the Local Government Boundary Commission and were based on submissions from the public. He said that East Herts Council could change the name of the wards but would have to wait a minimum of  five years from the completion of the boundary review to do so. 

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

RESOLVED – That (A) the outcome of the Electoral Review of East Herts and the final recommendations of the review made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England be noted;

(B)       Subject to approval by Parliament, to implement the revised warding arrangements for East Herts recommended by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as set out at Appendix A to this report, together with consequential changes to the electoral arrangements of certain parish and town councils with effect from the local and parish/town council elections on 4 May 2023;

(C)       That consequent on the changes to ward boundaries, the Council undertake between November 2022 and January 2023 a review of polling districts and polling places for the whole district, and that authority to agree the outcome of the review of polling districts and polling places be delegated to the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council;

(D)      The Electoral Registration Officer publish a revised electoral register for East Herts on 15 February 2023, incorporating the changes to wards and polling districts resulting from the Electoral Review and the review of polling districts; and

(E)       The Council agree in principle to undertake community governance reviews of (i) Ware town and certain neighbouring parishes and (ii) the Rush Green area as described at paragraphs 2.22 to 2.27 of this report, with a view to considering any changes to parish or parish/town ward boundaries that may be desirable in those areas.

(F)        The community governance reviews proposed at e) above take place after the May 2023 local elections and that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be requested to bring forward as soon as practicable after those elections draft terms of reference for the reviews for consideration by the Council.