Minutes:
The Full Council considered report CEX/54 of the Chief Executive, which set out proposed changes to the polling arrangements for the May 2021 elections in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. It was proposed that the reduction in the number of polling places from 27 to 23 which help to mitigate a number of the problems that have arisen due to holding an election during the pandemic included a projected shortfall in experienced Senior Presiding Officers.
The item had been previously considered at the Governance Committee on 26 January 2021. Councillor Burrett moved the recommendation and in doing so explained that included in the Order Paper was a revised and updated temporary Polling Scheme for the Full Council’s consideration. The Governance Committee requested that the Returning Officer’s investigate the viability of accommodating Polling Places on, or near to, the three existing schools which were named as Polling Places. The Returning Officer’s investigation concluded it was not possible and as such the table in the Order Paper listed the proposed polling places that temporarily removes the three existing schools as Polling Place and identifies their replacements.
The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Crow. Councillors Lunnon, Lamb, McCarthy and Lanzer also spoke on the report with many difference views being expressed on the recommendation including whether it was appropriate to reduce the number of polling places as it could lead to longer queuing with the likely stricter one in one out approach to voting taking place this year.
Following the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor invited the Democratic Services Manager to commence the voting process. Before the vote commenced, it was confirmed that none of the Labour or Conservative Members requested to vote as an individual, rather than through their respective Group block vote.
For the recommendation: Conservative block vote of 17 votes (17)
Against the recommendation: None (0)
Abstentions: Labour block vote of 15 votes and Councillors Fiveash and Sudan. (17)
The Mayor declared the recommendation was carried – votes in favour 17, and votes against 0 with 17 abstentions.
RESOLVED
That the Full Council approves the temporary Polling Scheme set out in table below for the May 2021 elections
|
Polling District |
Borough Ward |
County Division |
Proposed Polling Station |
Electorate |
Postal Voters |
Polling Station Voters |
|
LAA |
Bewbush and North Broadfield |
Bewbush and Ifield West |
Bewbush Centre |
6286 |
970 |
5316 |
|
LAB |
Bewbush and North Broadfield |
Broadfield |
Broadfield Community Centre |
991 |
149 |
842 |
|
LAC |
Bewbush and North Broadfield |
Southgate and Gossops Green |
Bewbush Centre |
45 |
5 |
40 |
|
LBA |
Broadfield |
Broadfield |
Broadfield Community Centre |
4671 |
794 |
3877 |
|
LBB |
Broadfield |
Broadfield |
Broadfield Community Centre |
2713 |
498 |
2215 |
|
LD |
Furnace Green |
Tilgate and Furnace Green |
Furnace Green Community Centre |
4531 |
1005 |
3526 |
|
LEA |
Gossops Green and North-East Broadfield |
Southgate and Gossops Green |
Gossops Green Community Centre |
3953 |
776 |
3177 |
|
LEB |
Gossops Green and North-East Broadfield |
Broadfield |
Broadfield Community Centre |
827 |
204 |
623 |
|
LFA |
Ifield |
Langley Green and Ifield East |
Ifield Community Centre |
3552 |
726 |
2826 |
|
LFB |
Ifield |
Langley Green and Ifield East |
Ifield Community Centre |
786 |
176 |
610 |
|
LFC |
Ifield |
Bewbush and Ifield West |
Ifield West Community Centre |
2257 |
379 |
1878 |
|
LFD |
Ifield |
Bewbush and Ifield West |
Ifield West Community Centre |
591 |
150 |
441 |
|
LGA |
Langley Green and Tushmore |
Langley Green and Ifield East |
Langley Green Centre |
5557 |
968 |
4589 |
|
LGB |
Langley Green and Tushmore |
Northgate and West Green |
Northgate Community Centre |
488 |
104 |
384 |
|
LHA |
Maidenbower |
Maidenbower and Worth |
Maidenbower Community Centre |
2895 |
592 |
2303 |
|
LHB |
Maidenbower |
Maidenbower and Worth |
Maidenbower Community Centre |
3911 |
781 |
3130 |
|
LIA |
Northgate and West Green |
Northgate and West Green |
Northgate Community Centre |
3497 |
564 |
2933 |
|
LIB |
Northgate and West Green |
Northgate and West Green |
The Charis Centre |
4148 |
792 |
3356 |
|
LJA |
Pound Hill North and Forge Wood |
Pound Hill |
Milton Mount Community Centre |
2894 |
612 |
2282 |
|
LJB |
Pound Hill North and Forge Wood |
Pound Hill |
Wakehams Green Community Centre |
1717 |
254 |
1463 |
|
LJC |
Pound Hill North and Forge Wood |
Pound Hill |
Wakehams Green Community Centre |
1862 |
337 |
1525 |
|
LKA |
Pound Hill South and Worth |
Three Bridges |
Pound Hill Community Centre |
2793 |
522 |
2271 |
|
LKB |
Pound Hill South and Worth |
Pound Hill |
St Edward the Confessor Church Hall |
1149 |
250 |
899 |
|
LKC |
Pound Hill South and Worth |
Maidenbower and Worth |
St Edward the Confessor Church Hall |
2334 |
615 |
1719 |
|
LLA |
Southgate |
Southgate and Gossops Green |
St Mary`s Church Hall |
2964 |
667 |
2297 |
|
LLB |
Southgate |
Southgate and Gossops Green |
Southgate West Community Centre |
2918 |
748 |
2170 |
|
LLC |
Southgate |
Northgate and West Green |
Southgate West Community Centre |
624 |
178 |
446 |
|
LMA |
Three Bridges |
Three Bridges |
Montefiore Institute |
2781 |
588 |
2193 |
|
LMB |
Three Bridges |
Three Bridges |
Three Bridges Community Centre |
1757 |
407 |
1350 |
|
LMC |
Three Bridges |
Three Bridges |
Holiday Inn Express |
1282 |
220 |
1062 |
|
LMD |
Three Bridges |
Northgate and West Green |
The Town Hall |
376 |
65 |
311 |
|
LNA |
Tilgate |
Tilgate and Furnace Green |
Tilgate Community Centre |
2370 |
469 |
1901 |
|
LNB |
Tilgate |
Tilgate and Furnace Green |
Holy Trinity Church Hall |
2084 |
365 |
1719 |
|
81604 |
15930 |
65674 |