Agenda item

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 least two years, but more likely a lot longer than that.

RESOLVED (unanimously):  That Council approves:-

·         All Saints Ward - creation of new polling district  AC and for electors to vote at Holy Trinity Primary School for all elections except for a County Council by election when the electors will vote at Robert Harvey House

·         Battledown Ward – to change the polling place / station  for electors in polling districts BA and BC to vote at (Portakabin) Cheltenham Cricket Club, Princes Street

·         Benhall, The Reddings & Fiddlers Green Ward – creation of new polling district CD and for electors to vote at Oasis Centre, Cassin Drive  

·         Charlton Kings Ward – to change the polling place / station from Kings Hall, Church Piece to Charlton Kings Baptist Hall, 38 Church Street

·         Charlton Park Ward – creation of new polling district ED and for electors to vote at Cheltenham East Community Fire & Rescue Station, Keynsham Road for all elections except for County Council by election when the electors will vote at Holy Apostles Church Hall, London Road

·         Charlton Park Ward – creation of new polling district EE and for electors to vote at Old Patesians Sports and Social Club, Everest Road for all elections except for County Council by election when the electors will vote at Leckhampton Primary School, Hall Road

·         College Ward – creation of new polling district FD and for electors to vote at Portakabin, Town Hall, Imperial Square for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at St Gregorys Old Priory, 70 Clarence Street

·         College Ward – creation of new polling district FE and for electors to vote at Emmanuel Church, Fairfield Parade for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at Leckhampton Baptist Hall, Pilley Lane

·         Hesters Way Ward – creation of polling district GC and for electors to vote at The Training Room, Access via the Car Park, Hesters Way Childrens Centre, Dill Avenue

·         Lansdown Ward – creation of new polling district HD and for electors to vote at St Gregorys Old Priory, 70 Clarence Street for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at Salem Baptist Hall, St Georges Road

·         Park Ward – creation of new polling district KC and for electors to vote at Bethesda Methodist Church Hall, Great Norwood Street for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at Portakabin, Town Hall, Imperial Square

·         Pittville Ward – creation of new polling district LC and for electors to vote at Pittville Pump Room, East/West Approach Drive for all elections except County Council by election when electors will vote at St Pauls Church Centre, Access via Brunswick Street

·         Pittville Ward – creation of new polling district LD and for electors to vote at Pittville Pump Room, East/West Approach Drive for all elections except for Parliamentary election when electors will vote at Prestbury Hall, Bouncers Lane

·         Prestbury Ward – polling district MB to change the polling station from the Portakabin and for electors to vote at the Committee Room, St. Nicolas Church Hall, Swindon Lane

·         Prestbury Ward - creation of new polling district MC and for electors to vote at Prestbury Hall, Bouncers Lane for all elections except for Parliamentary election when electors will vote at Pittville Pump Room East/West Approach Drive

·         Springbank Ward – creation of new polling district NC and for electors to vote at Hesters Way Childrens Centre, Dill Avenue for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at Swindon Village Hall, Church Road

·         Up Hatherley Ward – change current polling district SA – Transfer the following streets/properties from SA to SC:-

o   7 to 75 and 2 to 28 Caernarvon Road

o   Caernarvon Court, Caernarvon Road

o   1 to 11 and 2 to 6 Carmarthen Road

o   Flint Road

o   Glamorgan Road

o   Hatherley Lane

o   Hatherley Mews, Hatherley Lane

o   267 to 313 and 282 to 320 Hatherley Road

o   Kingscote Avenue

o   Kingscote Close

o   Kingscote Grove

o   Kingscote Road East

o   Kingscote Road West

o   Pembroke Road

o   Wards Road

Transfer 77 to 151 Caernarvon Road from polling district SA to polling district SB.  The electors remaining in polling district SA to vote at St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road

·         Up Hatherley Ward – change current polling district SB to include 77 to 151 Caernarvon Road from polling district SA and for electors to vote at Hillview Community Centre, Hulbert Crescent

·         Up Hatherley Ward – change current polling district SC and to include all of the streets and properties listed in changes to polling district SA above and for electors to vote at Up Hatherley Village Hall, Cold Pool Lane

·         Up Hatherley Ward – creation of new polling district SD and for electors to vote at St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at St Stephens Parish Church, St Stephens Road

·         Up Hatherley Ward – creation of new polling district SE and for electors to vote at St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road for all elections except for County Council by election when electors will vote at The Annexe, St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road

·         Warden Hill Ward – Polling district TA for electors to vote at The Annexe, St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road

·         Warden Hill Ward – creation of new polling district TD and for electors to vote at The Annexe, St Margarets Hall, Coniston Road for all elections except for County by election when electors will vote at St Stephens Parish Church, St Stephens Road