Agenda item

Copy herewith

Approval was sought for proposed changes to polling districts and polling places in Northampton, as set out in the report, as amended following the results of the consultation on the proposals which had been published on 28 January 2013.  The comments received as part of the consultation, plus the Returning Officers’ responses to those comments, were tabled at the meeting.

The changes were proposed as a result of the publication of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s Final Recommendations for County Council Divisions in Northamptonshire. Council’s decision on 3 December 2012 to create two new Parish Councils in the Borough and an evaluation of polling places and stations after the last election.  The proposals would reducethe number of polling districts from 135 to 95, the number of polling places by 17 and the number of polling stations by almost 30%.  It was also intended to reduce the number of schools used, as they often choose to close fully on polling days, and also to use nursery schools in preference to primary schools.

It was noted that with regard to some of the suggestions made through the consultation, alternative suitable locations had not been identified where respondents had requested that alternative locations be used.  Officers would continue to look at potential locations in those areas suggested.

The timing of the Boundary Commission recommendations, the Community Governance Review and the PCC election plus the need to have the new polling districts and stations in place in time for preparations to be made for the County Council elections in May had meant the timescale for producing the report had been tight, hence the tabling of the consultation comments and responses at the meeting.

All Members would be sent copies of maps showing the locations of the new polling districts and polling stations.  In addition, polling cards produced for the County Council elections in May would have a sentence on them in red print stating that “your polling station may have changed.”

RESOLVED:

1.    That the outcome of the public consultation on the proposals, published on 28 January 2013, be noted.

2.    That the proposed changes to the polling districts and polling places within the Borough set out in the report, as amended by the following changes resulting from the public consultation, be agreed in order that preparations can be made for the Northamptonshire County Council election to be conducted on the new county division boundaries:

·         The polling station at  Parklands Nursery School and Children’s Centre to remain and be used by electors living in the new polling district of NPLB;

·      The current polling district NKGA not to be combined with polling district NKGB and the polling station to remain as a mobile located in the Pioneer public house car park;

·         The current polling district SNEHC to use a polling station at Blackymore Community Centre, rather than at East Hunsbury Primary School;

·         The new polling district SNEHE to use a polling station at the Abbey Centre, rather than Grangewood Club.

3.    That the ability to amend the polling districts, polling places and polling stations as required for operational purposes be delegated to the Returning Officer.