Agenda item

To consider the proposals of the Working Party set up by the Committee at the June meeting, to review polling districts and polling places within the New Forest District, in compliance with the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 and to make recommendations to the Council.

The Committee considered the proposals of the Working Party set up by the Committee at the June meeting, to review Polling Districts and Polling Places within the New Forest District, in compliance with the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.

The Council was required by law to complete a review of the Polling Districts and Polling Places within the District by the end of 2019.  The Working Party had to consider any issues and make recommendations to the Committee which would then be submitted to Council.

The Working Party invited comments from all District Councillors, Parish and Town Councils and the District’s two MP’s, as well as persons or groups who had particular expertise in relation to access to premises or facilities for persons who had different forms of disability.  The closing date for representations was 18 August 2019.  Those making comments had been asked to identify alternative places to hold future elections if they were proposing closure of a particular Polling Station.

The report included a plan showing Polling Districts and their identifiers, details of each Polling Place/Station, and a further plan showing proposed Polling District DL.

The Committee noted the nine recommendations for change raised as a result of the representations.

40 responses to the consultation had been received, of which 28 were received from parents, the pre-school and Town Councillors in relation to Lydlynch Infant School, Totton.  The Working Party had recommended that transfer of the Polling station from Lydlynch to the Cricket Club and Members supported this.  The point was made that Polling Station at Lydlynch had been used for some years and it was anticipated that many local people would expect still to vote there, and it was therefore suggested that the change be advertised and signs be put on site.   In response, it was explained that it was intended to write to the electors about the change and include the information clearly on polling cards as well as providing signs at the school.

Members felt that, wherever possible, it would be advantageous not to use schools for Polling Stations to avoid the disruption involved.

In respect of Calmore Village Hall, the Committee noted the objections in respect of the lack of public transport in the area.  It was emphasised that the Polling Station experienced low usage and on balance it was considered that the Polling Station should be closed, postal votes offered and the situation be kept under review.

A Member asked whether the statistics used in the review were based on District Council Elections or General Election, and Officers undertook to confirm this after the meeting.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Working Group had made its deliberations after reviewing extensive information and noted that costings ranged from £2.50 per voter up to approximately £24 per voter at some Polling Stations, and a common-sense balance had to be struck ensuring that the solutions were practical and reasonable.

In answer to a question, it was explained that the current Electoral Review affecting the District would not be implemented until 2023 and therefore further review of Polling Districts and Polling Places would need to be undertaken around that time.

A Member referred to the Polling Station at the Scout Hall, Beckton Lane, where elderly people had difficulty accessing the hall due to the condition of the path.  It was

explained that some recent repairs had been undertaken to the path, and although the Polling Station was not ideal, there was no viable alternative.  It was undertaken that for the next election, the Council would work with the Town Council to ensure the Polling Station was as accessible as possible.

The Committee considered an additional recommendation to Report 5 in respect of a suggested extra delegated power recommended:

RECOMMENDED:

That it be a recommendation to the Council that:

(1)        That with effect from the from the publication of the Revised Register of Electors in December 2019:

(a)        The Reading Room Polling Place and Polling Station be discontinued; and

(b)        Existing Polling District BG (approximately 128 electors) be transferred to Polling District BH and the electors allocated to Bransgore Village Hall;

(c)        The Calmore Village Hall Polling Place and Polling Station be discontinued with electors being transferred to Netley Marsh Community Hall Woodlands Road;

and

(d)        The existing NA Polling District (approximately 316 electors) be transferred and amalgamated to Polling District NB as a single polling district (approximately 1692 electors);

(e)        The Lydlynch Pre School be discontinued as Polling Pace and Polling Station and the electors allocated to the Totton and Eling Cricket Club building in Bramtoco Way, Totton;

(f)         The Sandleheath Methodist Church Hall, Alderholt Road, Sandleheath be discontinued as a Polling Place and Polling Station and the electors transferred to the Village Hall, Main Road, Sandleheath;

(g)        The Victoria Rooms, Bridge Street, Fordingbridge be discontinued as a Polling Place and Polling Station and the electors transferred to the Town Hall, Fordingbridge;

(h)        Polling District DN (approximately 21 electors) is amalgamated with Polling District as a single DL polling district with approximately 131 electors.

(2)        That all other Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations remain the same as outlined in Appendix 2

(3)        That the Returning Officer be authorised to designate alternative Polling Places and Polling Stations should the need arise prior to the publication of the revised Register in December 2019

(4)        That the Council Scheme of Delegation of Powers to Officers, that are the responsibility of the Council, be amended to delegate the following power:-