Democracy in Crawley

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Agenda item

Polling District Review: Final Proposals

To consider report LDS/148 of the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR.

Minutes:

The Committee considered report LDS/148 of the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR, the purpose of which was to consider the final proposals on future polling arrangements for Crawley. The review had been required to take account of ward boundary changes made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England review of electoral arrangements in Crawley as well as being combined with the statutory review of Polling Districts.

 

The Electoral Services Manager presented the report and advised the Committee that, following discussions with Forge Wood Primary School, the school had agreed that its premises would accommodate a polling station for Forge Wood Ward if its safeguarding requirements could be satisfied.

 

The Committee acknowledged that the Council avoided using school premises as polling places where possible, however it noted that whilst Forge Wood Ward was still under construction, Forge Wood School had a limited number of pupils and therefore had sufficient available space which could be used without having to close the school.  The Electoral Services Manager clarified that the use of Forge Wood School was expected to be a temporary measure and that it was envisaged that once Forge Wood Community Centre had been built, that would become the permanent polling station for Polling District LJC.  The Committee was in support of Forge Wood School being used as a polling place for Polling District LJC in the interim.

 

The Chief Executive advised the Committee that she had been in discussion with the Brook School, as the school objected to the use of its premises as a polling place for Polling District LHA for Maidenbower Ward.  Although several options had been discussed with the school, a solution had not been found which would allow the premises to be used without the full closure of the school on Election days.  The Chief Executive highlighted the current uncertainty at Central Government level and advised that four elections could potentially be called at short notice.  Should any such elections be called, the Chief Executive advised the Committee that a portacabin would need to be used as a polling place, as the school would not have planned for those closures and it would not be reasonable to expect the school to close in those circumstances.

 

Following a query from a Committee Member, the Electoral Services Manager agreed to verify and, if necessary, correct the postal vote numbers for Furnace Green Ward.

 

The Committee discussed the polling arrangements for Three Bridges Ward , and it was suggested that Crawley Library would be a suitable alternative polling place for Polling District LMD and it was requested that, once development of the Town Hall had begun and the Civic Hall was no longer available, that option be considered further.  A Committee Member was of the view that Three Bridges Ward did not require four polling places, however other Members were of the view that the proposals for Three Bridges Ward were reasonable.

 

Amendment

 

It was moved by Councillor Crow (seconded by Councillor McCarthy) that the Holiday Inn polling place for Three Bridges Ward be deleted and that the polling place for Polling District LMC be at the Three Bridges Community Centre, Gales Place.

 

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

 

The Committee then voted unanimously to agree the recommendation as set out in report LDS/148.

 

The Committee expressed its thanks to the Electoral Review Working Group and the Electoral Services Manager for their hard work and for conducting such a thorough review of the Polling District.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Full Council be recommended to approve the polling arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes.

 

 

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