Democracy and General Purposes Committee

10 March 2021

 

Local Government Boundary Review - Update

 

Final Decision-Maker

Democracy and General Purposes Committee

Lead Head of Service

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communication and Governance

Lead Officer and Report Author

Ryan O’Connell, Democracy and Electoral Services Manager

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

To provide a brief overview of the Local Government Boundary Review, including key dates.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Noting.

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

That the Committee note the update.

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Democracy and General Purposes Committee

10 March 2021



Local Government Boundary Review - Update

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The setup of the Council’s boundaries and consequential election of Councillors impacts on all priorities indirectly, but this report has no direct impacts as it is for noting.

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Cross Cutting Objectives

The setup of the Council’s boundaries and consequential election of Councillors impacts on all objectives indirectly, but this report has no direct impacts as it is for noting.

 

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Risk Management

There are no changes to risks arising from this report.  Project risks for the review will be managed using standard methodology and in accordance with the Council’s risk appetite.

 

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Financial

There are no financial implications arising from this report. Any future implications will be managed through the project.

 

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Staffing

There are no staffing implications arising from this report.  Any future implications will be managed through the project.

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Legal

There are no legal implications arising from the recommendation set out in this report.  Any future legal implications will be managed through the project.

 

Team Leader Corporate Governance

Privacy and Data Protection

There are no privacy and data protection implications arising from this report. 

Head of Policy, Communications, and Governance

Equalities

There are no equalities implications arising from this report.  Any future implications will be managed through the project.

 

Head of Policy, Communications, and Governance

Public Health

 

 

There are no public health implications arising from this report.

Public Health Officer

Crime and Disorder

There are no crime and disorder implications arising from this report. 

 

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Procurement

There are no procurement implications arising from this report.  Any future implications will be managed through the project.

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Biodiversity and Climate Change

There are no biodiversity and climate change implications arising from this report.

Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

 

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1        The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) have met with Group Leaders and Senior Officers to discuss the timetable and information requirements for the Local Government Boundary Review agreed by this Committee in November 2020.

 

2.2        Those conversations took into account the decisions taken by this committee in January 2021 to retain a committee system of governance and to stay with elections by thirds.

 

2.3        A briefing for all Members has been arranged for 22 March 2021 and all Members are encouraged to attend as the boundary review will necessarily have implications for all Wards and Members.  Further information will be circulated to Members ahead of that briefing, but this report sets out the high level timetable for the review.

 

2.4        Up to November 2021 – Council size submission (the number of Members on the Council) to be made to the LGBCE by Maidstone Borough Council and others if they wish.  All submissions will need to evidenced and in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.  The Commission will be looking to adopt a draft recommendation on size in December 2021.

 

2.5        January 2022 – Autumn 2022 – Ward Boundaries to be determined taking into account the total number of Councillors, the requirement for three Members per ward, and the need to ensure an equality of electors per councillor across the Borough.  This process will include periods of consultation with the public, Councillors, Parishes and others to feed in their views.  All submissions will need to be evidenced and everyone will be asked to express their support for the proposals they like, as well as the elements they would want changed.

 

2.6        Winter/Spring 2022-2023 – Orders laid by LGBCE for change to Wards with a view for implementation at a Whole Council election (‘all out’) in May 2024.  This allows for a Community Governance Review in 2023 to review Parish boundaries and other matters in light of the Borough Ward boundary changes (where those matters are not dealt with under the Local Government Boundary Review).

 

2.7        The Democracy and General Purposes Committee normally meets once every 2 months, but Members will note that extra dates have been added into the calendar of meetings for 2021/22 in order to ensure Members are fully involved in the review, especially the development of Council size proposals, prior to submission to Council and then the LGBCE.

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

That the report be noted.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

       That the report be noted.

 

 

5.       RISK

        This report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.

 

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

The Committee have considered the Local Government Boundary Review and decisions arising at its meetings in November 2020, and January 2021.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

An all Member briefing will be held on 22 March 2021.  All Members are encouraged to attend.

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

       None

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Local Government Boundary Commission for England – Technical Guidance (including the Council Size Proposal Template) - https://www.lgbce.org.uk/how-reviews-work/technical-guidance