Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive, Andrew North, as the Electoral Registration Officer introduced the report which had been circulated with agenda.  He explained that the council had a statutory duty to review its polling districts, polling places and polling stations every five years, to ensure that all electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable and to ensure that the polling stations are accessible to all electors including those with special needs. A consultation exercise had been completed and consideration had been given to the views put forward.

The Chief Executive reported that one change was being proposed, namely that the current polling district of Charlton Park Ward, Polling District EA, be split so that electors living in the north of the polling district vote at Cheltenham East Community Fire and Rescue Station, Keynsham Road and a new polling district ED be created for the remaining electors. The Chief Executive explained that Councillors Baker and Sudbury had undertaken a residents’ survey earlier in the year and had received strong support for the change. Councillor Smith, the other ward Member for Charlton Park, was also broadly supportive of the suggestions. He also gave the assurance that the event of a fire the fire engines would not be in the way of the polling station.

The Chief Executive then made reference to correspondence received from Councillors Ryder and Regan with regard to Warden Hill Ward, Warden Hill Ward of the Parish of Leckhampton with Warden Hill Polling District TB in terms of creating a new polling district for the roads in the south east corner of polling district TB and a new polling place and station at the Brizen Young Peoples Centre for the electors in the newly created polling district. He reported that this proposal had been looked at carefully and discussions had been held with the ward Councillors but this was deemed to be not as well based in the community so at the present time the existing polling district and polling station would remain unaltered.

Finally, the Chief Executive reported that the full list of polling districts, polling places and polling stations would be published for a further period of six weeks, during which time individuals have the right to make representations to the Electoral Commission.

Members welcomed the proposed change and said it would make it more convenient for those who lived at the north end of Charlton Park ward who currently had to travel by car.

A ward Member from Warden Hill felt that the Warden Hill proposal should be considered further in the future regarding the Up Hatherley Parish Council ward boundary but recognised that there would need to be more community involvement. In response the Chief Executive explained that TB and TC were different parishes and it was required by law that there were separate polling stations. He highlighted however that a review could be requested at any time, i.e. not necessarily within the 5 year period if there was significant community feeling.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the following changes to polling districts, places and stations be approved:

Charlton Park Ward, Polling District EA – split the current polling district of EA so that electors living in the north of the polling district listed below vote at Cheltenham East Community Fire and Rescue Station, Keynsham Road

Argyll Road

Avenalls Parade

Avenall Court, Avenalls Parade

Chelsea Close

College Gate

College Road

Corpus Street

Keynsham Road

Keynshambury Road

Knightsbridge Crescent

London Road

Old Bath Road Numbers 1-43 and 4-28

Sadlers Court, Old Bath Road

Priory Place

Sandford Mill Close

Sandford Mill Road

Sandford Park Place

Southgate Drive

Westminster Close

and create a new polling district ED for the remaining electors living in the roads listed below and for these electors to continue to vote at Sacred Hearts Parish Hall, Moorend Road

Charlton Gardens

Charlton Lane

Charlton Park Drive

Charlton Park Gate

Cirencester Road

Evelyn Close

Greatfield Drive

Greenhills Close

King Arthur Close

Sandringham Court, King Arthur Close

King George Close

Balmoral Court, King George Close

King Henry Close

King William Drive

Moorend Road

Old Bath Road numbers 130-178

Sandy Lane

The Avenue

The costs that will be incurred for the new polling station at Cheltenham East Community Fire and Rescue Station will be £360.

That the full list of polling districts, polling places and polling stations as set out in appendix E and F are published for a further period of six weeks, during which time individuals have the right to make representations to the Electoral Commission.