Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Councillor Jones to the meeting following his recent reappointment as a Member of this Committee.

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

No disclosures of interests were made.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Governance Committee held on 18 September 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 18 September 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider report LDS/144 by the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR.

The Committee considered report LDS/144 of the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR Services, the purpose of which was to consider the Acting Returning Officer’s comments on future polling arrangements for Crawley.

The Electoral Services Manager presented the report.  In so doing he confirmed that changes to ward boundaries as a consequence of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s Review, had now required a review of polling arrangements within the Borough.  As agreed at the Committee’s meeting on 18 September 2018, this review was being combined with the statutory review which the Council was obliged to undertake with effect from 1 October 2018.  The Committee’s attention was drawn to the proposed changes to the Polling Scheme (as detailed in the report), and the Committee was asked to approve new polling arrangements for Consultation to be held between 19 November and 28 December 2018 - all in line with the timetable set out in the report.

To assist in its consideration of this matter, the Committee referred to Appendix C of the report which set out the new ward boundaries and the proposed polling districts to come into effect from 2019.  The wards reflected the Boundary Commission’s recommended boundaries, and the Committee’s comments are set out below:-

Maidenbower Ward

There were no changes proposed for this ward, and no issues were raised by the Committee.

Pound Hill South and Worth Ward

There were no changes proposed for this ward, and no issues were raised by the Committee.

Pound Hill North and Forge Wood Ward

Members expressed concern regarding the proposal that the polling place for the LJA district should be moved from the Grattons Indoor Bowls Club to Milton Mount Community Centre.  It was considered that parking provision at the Grattons was better and had worked well, whilst it was felt that potentially there could be parking problems and associated disruption for nearby residents of the Milton Mount Community Centre if that facility was utilised instead.  Members also referred to the more central location of the Grattons within the district boundary, but acknowledged that access arrangements, particularly for those with wheelchairs and prams could be improved.

In terms of the LJB polling district, which included the Forge Wood development, Members considered that Forge Wood - for reasons of its growing population and distance to its current polling place, was now more deserving of a separate polling district, to be served by its own polling place.  It was acknowledged that whilst there were currently limited community facilities to contain a polling place in the Forge Wood area, a mobile facility could be considered whilst development of the area continued.

Amendments 

1.            It was moved by Councillor Burrett (seconded by Councillor McCarthy) that the Grattons Indoor Bowls Club be retained as the polling place for the LJA polling district, and that measures be sought to improve access to that facility.

The amendment upon being put to the Committee, was declared to be CARRIED.

2.            It was moved by Councillor Jones (seconded by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Committee Members are reminded to note that the next Committee meeting scheduled for 22 January 2019 has been cancelled and will now take place on 14 January 2019 at 7pm.  This change has been made so that the Polling District Review can be debated by the Committee prior to its consideration on 23 January 2019 by the Special Full Council.

The Committee was reminded that the next Committee meeting scheduled for 22 January 2019 had been cancelled and would now take place on 14 January 2019 at 7pm.  This change had been made so that the Polling District Review could be debated by the Committee prior to its consideration on 23 January 2019 by the Special Full Council.

RESOLVED

That the change of date of the Committee’s January meeting be noted.

Appendix C