Issue - meetings

Report of the Electoral Registration Officer

The Executive Director for Finance, Assets and Regeneration introduced the report, saying that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England completed its review, with the order made on 18 July 2023, and changes coming into effect on 02 May 2024.  The council has a statutory duty to review its polling districts, places and stations, and make sure that these are accessible to all.  The consultation exercise is now complete and the recommendations ready to be put forward.  He thanked everyone who shared their views, and Kim Smith and the elections team in particular for finding an alternative polling station for Battledown ward, following local concern about the closure of Holy Apostles school for the by-election earlier this year.

In response to Member questions, the Executive Director for Finance, Assets and Regeneration and the Electoral Services Manager confirmed that:

-       although at present, the polling station for a county council by-election in Park and Lansdown wards would be a portakabin at the Town Hall or Salem Baptist Church rather than the usual polling stations, it is hoped that with the county boundary changes next year, these anomalies will be matched up so that people don’t go to different polling stations for borough and county elections;

-       although some voters may find the new polling station in Battledown more difficult to get to, the council cannot consider helping people get there.  Cheltenham is unique in the number of polling stations and their proximity to voters, particularly compared with rural areas where people sometimes have to travel substantially further.  The council always looks for polling stations that are as amenable as possible for voters.  In Battledown, the proposed portakabin at the cricket club has good parking, and the cricket club is looking to make itself more accessible, with the clubhouse itself used as the polling station in future.

Member debate

In debate, Members made the following observations:

-       with a few polling stations some way outside the ward, people may have trouble recognising the area where they live in relation to the ward where they live, which seems bizarre;

-       will the Leader consider keeping the boundary working group– some wards need to be revisited, such as Benhall, which is split by a dual carriageway.  Ward boundary changes should come from the local authority – we shouldn’t  have to wait for the boundary commission who don’t know the area to make piecemeal changes that are number-based rather than community-based.  As an example, in May, a small part of Hesters Way ward will end up in Tewkesbury constituency, which seems ludicrous.  The boundary working group could draw up something for the future that is more representative of communities and works well;

-       thanks to the team who delivered this work – it has involved a huge amount of hard work.

The Leader said most people would continue to vote in the same place as previously.  Although CBC could ask the question, she doubted whether the Boundary Commission would consider re-looking at Cheltenham for at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9