Issue - meetings

Statutory Review of Polling Districts

Meeting: 30/01/2019 - Council (Item 60)

60 REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING STATIONS pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive introduced the report on the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Stations.

 

It was moved by Councillor K E Morris, and duly seconded by Councillor F J W Scales that the recommended proposals for the Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Stations Scheme be approved.

 

Members discussed the location of polling stations in North Deal and Rokesley/Buckland.

 

RESOLVED: That the recommended proposals for the Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Stations Scheme be approved as follows:

 

(a)          That the current scheme be amended to incorporate all of the recommendations of the (Acting) Returning Officer for the Dover Parliamentary Constituency (as set out in section 3.3 of the report).

(b)          That each Polling District be designated as the Polling Place. Where no suitable Polling Station is available the (Acting) Returning Officer be authorised to designate an adjoining Polling District for that Polling Place.

(c)          That the Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places be designated as the Polling Districts and Polling Places for Local Government Elections.

 

 

 


Meeting: 22/01/2019 - Electoral Matters Committee (Item 14)

14 Review of Polling Districts and Places pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman proposed that the 8 proposed changes where there was a consensus amongst the committee be considered first.

 

It was the consensus of opinion that the changes to the following 8 polling districts be agreed as per the report:

 

·         Buckland District Ward and Whitfield District Ward

·         Maxton and Elms Vale District Ward and Town and Castle District Ward

·         St Radigund’s District Ward

·         Tower Hamlets District Ward

·         Eastry Rural District Ward

·         Middle Deal District Ward

·         Sandwich District Ward

·         Eythorne and Shepherdswell District Ward

 

Members debated the proposals for the remaining polling district (North Deal) with Councillor B Gardner proposing the addition of a Portacabin or the use of the Chequers Pub as an alternative to the proposed polling station.

 

The Chief Executive advised that the Sholden area that would form part of the new North Deal Ward agreed as part of the recent Electoral Review contained approximately 130 electors, a significant number (30-40%) of which had a postal vote. The cost of hiring a portacabin that met the requirements of the Council made it an impracticable option and the Chequers Pub had been investigated as a potential polling station but determined to be unsuitable for the Council’s needs.

 

The proposed polling station (Golf Road Centre) was actually closer for voters in the Sholden part of North Deal than their previous polling station had been.

 

On being put to the vote it was agreed that the North Deal District Ward polling district be agreed as per the report.

 

RESOLVED:       That it be recommended to Council that the proposed Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Stations Scheme be agreed as set out in the report.

 


Meeting: 15/10/2018 - Electoral Matters Committee (Item 9)

9 Statutory Review of Polling Districts pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To consider the report of the Electoral Services Team Leader (to follow).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive introduced the report on the Statutory Review of Polling Districts.

 

Members were advised that legislation required the Council to undertake and complete a review of Polling Districts between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive). The Polling District Scheme was used for Parliamentary and Local Government Elections and Referendum and following the completion of the electoral arrangements review of Dover District Council conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England it was imperative that the review was concluded with a view to allowing enough time for the Electoral Registration Officer to republish the Register of Electors prior to the start of the nomination period for the 2019 local elections.

 

The following areas were discussed by Members:

 

·         Whether there was justification for a polling district for Elvington

·         The size of the Buckland North and South Polling Districts and whether they needed change

·         The options for the Tower Hamlets Polling District

·         The impact of the new district wards in 2019 on existing polling districts and in particular the impacts on Sholden and Eastry

 

The Chief Executive informed Members that all consultation responses received would be treated equally. 

 

RESOLVED: (a)   That the Polling District Scheme be approved for consultation.

 

                        (b)   That officers be requested to look at options for Tower Hamlets and report back to the next meeting.