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 Councillor Lamb) that a separate polling district be created for Forge Wood, served by its own polling place (mobile if necessary)

 

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

 

 

Three Bridges Ward

A number of Members had concerns regarding the proposed use of the Crawley Museum as the polling place to serve the Town Centre (LMC).  Whilst acknowledging the proposal to no longer retain the Holiday Inn Express as the polling place to serve Pembroke Park, Members generally considered that a new polling district should be created for the Town Centre.  In any event this would be necessary to take account of divisional boundaries for WSCC. 

 

Amendments 

 

1.            It was moved by Councillor Crow (seconded by Councillor Lanzer) that the proposed Town Centre polling district of LMC be removed and be merged with LMB.

 

Upon being put to the Committee, the amendment received an equal number of votes for and against, with one abstention.  The Chair then used his casting vote, which was against the amendment.

 

The proposed amendment was therefore LOST.

 

2.            It was moved by Councillor Jones (seconded by Councillor Lamb) that the Crawley Museum be used as the polling place to serve the Town Centre, and that the Holiday Inn Express be retained as a specific polling place for Pembroke Park.

 

Upon being put to the Committee, the amendment received an equal number of votes for and against, with one abstention.  The Chair then used his casting vote, which was against the amendment.

 

The proposed amendment was therefore LOST.

 

3.            It was moved by Councillor Lunnon (seconded by Councillor Fiveash) that a new polling district be created specifically for the Town Centre (LMD) and that the current LMC be retained, with a polling place for both in a central location to be determined.  In this respect consideration be given to such locations as the Crawley Library or Crawley College.

 

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

 

 

Langley Green and Tushmore Ward

It was proposed that the ward be served by one polling place at the Langley Green Centre. This represented a change of polling place for electors to the east of the A23 who would have previously voted at the Northgate Community Centre.  Whilst it was acknowledged that the Langley Green Centre was a similar distance to travel, Members reiterated their reservations on the basis that electors (East of the A23), would for the West Sussex County Council elections, be voting for the Northgate and West Green Division.

 

Amendment 

 

It was moved by Councillor Crow (seconded by Councillor McCarthy) that electors to the East of the A23 continue to vote at the Northgate Community Centre.

 

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

 

 

Northgate and West Green Ward

No issues were raised by the Committee.

 

Ifield Ward

The Committee indicated its support for the proposal that the Orchards development, which currently formed part of the Langley Green ward, should instead form part of the polling district Ifield LFA.  Comments had been received from a Member of this ward suggesting that to increase their awareness, this proposal should be made clear as part of the forthcoming consultation process.

 

Bewbush and North Broadfield Ward

Members raised issues in relation to polling district identification references, both for this particular ward and for all wards generally. In terms of re-designating identification references for all polling districts, some Members considered that there was a need for this as a result of the Boundary Commission’s recommended ward changes, whilst other Members considered the potential difficulties that re-identification might cause.

 

Amendments

 

1.            It was moved by Councillor Crow (seconded by Councillor McCarthy) that with regard to the Bewbush and North Broadfield ward, the reference LAB be changed to LAC.

 

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

 

2.            It was moved by Councillor Lamb (and seconded) that as a result of the Boundary Commission’s recommended changes to wards within the Borough, the identification references of all polling districts be re-designated.

 

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

 

 

Broadfield Ward

In order to minimise the risk of confusion for voters, a Member requested that the location of the proposed polling places to service this ward (being the Broadfield Community Centre and the Creasys Drive Adventure Playground), be made clearer on the polling cards by perhaps printing those polling places in emboldened print.

Members sought and received clarification on further issues raised regarding these polling places.

 

Amendment

 

It was moved by Councillor Crow that the proposed polling districts of LBA and LBB be combined to form one polling district of LB, with the polling place being Broadfield Community Centre.

 

There was no seconder for this motion, and so the motion fell.

 

 

Tilgate Ward

The two current polling districts in Tilgate were served by The Holy Trinity Church Hall, Titmus Drive and the Community Centre, Shackleton Road.  These two buildings were in close proximity to each other, and it was proposed to combine the ward into one polling district with the polling place at Tilgate Community Centre.  In discussing this matter in detail Members generally considered that Tilgate should retain two polling districts, but that they should be split on a more logical basis taking into account the locations of the two current, and preferred, polling places.   Comments had been received from a Member of the Tilgate ward, which reflected these same views.  A Member indicated that the reason for the current East West split in Tilgate was due to the polling places in Tilgate having previously been located within schools.

 

Amendments

 

1.            It was moved by Councillor Jones (seconded by Councillor Lamb) that the two polling places as currently used (The Holy Trinity Church Hall, Titmus Drive and the Community Centre, Shackleton Road) be retained.

 

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

 

2.            It was moved by Councillor Crow (and seconded by Councillor Lamb) that as part of the consultation exercise on the Polling District Review, consideration be given to revising the split of the Tilgate ward, by using Ashdown Drive as an East to West boundary line, and thus providing polling districts with a North and South divide.

 

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

 

Furnace Green Ward

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

 

Southgate Ward

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

 

Gossops Green and North East Broadfield Ward

No issues were raised by the Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the polling arrangements set out in report LDS/144 be approved for consultation between 19^th November and 28^th December 2018, subject to the amendments as Carried above and contained in the revised Appendix C attached to these minutes.