Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Suite, North Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EP. View directions

Contact: Democratic and Electoral Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair

To note the appointments made by Council at the Annual Meeting on 20 May 2019:-

 

  • Chair – Councillor Williams
  • Vice Chair – Councillor Taylor

Minutes:

The Committee noted the appointments made by Annual Council of Councillor Williams as Chair and Councillor Taylor as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

Minutes:

Councillor Coole declared a personal interest in Item 6, specifically in relation to the proposal to use Waterwells Primary Academy as a polling station as he was a member of the Trust Board; he took no part in the discussions.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 148 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2019.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2019 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record. </AI3>

 

4.

Public Question Time (15 minutes)

To receive any questions from members of the public provided that a question does not relate to:

 

·         Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·         Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

 

5.

Petitions and Deputations (15 minutes)

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

 

·       Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·       Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

Minutes:

There were no petitions and deputations.

 

6.

2019 Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places Review pdf icon PDF 162 KB

To receive the report of the Returning Officer concerning the recommendations of the statutory review of polling districts and polling places.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Returning Officer concerning the recommendations of the statutory review of polling districts and polling places.

 

The Policy and Governance Manager referred to the public consultation that had taken place from 9 July to 8 September 2019 as shown at Appendix 3.  A total of 10 responses had been received; 2 positive and 8 responses objecting to the use of specific schools as polling stations.

 

She advised that options had been explored to find alternative venues, and that there had been a general move to reduce the number of polling stations by merging existing polling districts to provide a number of benefits, including a reduction in the number of staff required.  She explained the mergers would not have an impact on electors as they were only proposed in polling districts that used the same polling station.

 

Polling district boundaries for L2, L3 and L4

 

The Committee were asked to review the two options for L2, L3 and L4 and consider whether it would be practical to merge L2 and L3 which would leave L4 unchanged, or consideration be given for the boundaries to be redrawn.

 

After careful consideration, the Committee agreed to recommend Option 1 as this would provide a clearer boundary line.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Lewis regarding the boundary line in QSV1, the Policy and Governance Manager confirmed that no boundaries had been redrawn in Quedgeley Severn Vale.

 

Polling station for BT5

 

The Policy and Governance Manager advised that Tredworth Junior School had objected to the school being used as a polling station for a number of years.  She added that Ward Councillors had been supportive and alternative locations had been identified at Hatherley Infant School and Tredworth Infant and Primary Academy.

 

Members noted that Hatherley Infant School was outside the polling district.  Tredworth Infant and Primary Academy was a suitable building however, this location was less visible and accessible.

 

The Committee agreed to recommend that the polling station for BT5 remain at Tredworth Junior School.

 

Polling station for QFC3

 

Members were advised that Waterwells Primary Academy and Waterwells Sports Centre had been identified as suitable locations within this area.

 

Members noted that Waterwells Primary Academy was on the boundary of the polling district and ward, which could potentially cause confusion for electors in the Kingsway ward. Waterwells Sports Centre was accessible by foot, but due to a number of no through roads, access by car was less direct.

 

The Committee agreed to recommend that the polling station be moved for Waterwells Sports Centre.

 

Westgate Ward

 

The Policy and Governance Manager explained that the boundary between W1 and W2 at the very north-east currently runs through the land occupied by Sainsburys and the Peel Centre.  It was proposed that the boundary be moved to run alongside St Ann’s Way to provide clarity for the housing being built in that area.

 

Councillor Hilton proposed a further amendment to the boundaries in Westgate Ward. He proposed that the boundary between W2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.