ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY DEVELOPMENT GROUP ON LOCAL GOVERNANCE () ACT 2004

CORPORATE SERVICES 13 FEBRUARY 2006

COMMISSION ON BOUNDARY DIFFERENCES AND VOTING SYSTEMS (ARBUTHNOTT)

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 The purpose of this note is to report formally that the Commission on boundary differences and voting systems (the Arbuthnott Commission) has submitted its report to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the First Minister. The Commission’s remit was to examine the consequences of having four different systems of voting in Scotland, and different boundaries for Westminster and Constituencies.

2.0 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 The PDG is invited to note the current position.

3.0 DETAIL

3.1 The Arbuthnott Commission was set up in July 2004 by the Secretary of State for Scotland under the Chairmanship of Professor Sir John Arbuthnott. In examining the consequences of having four different systems of voting, and different boundaries for Westminster and Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies, the Commission was to examine these consequences for –

- voter participation;

- the relationship between public bodies and authorities in Scotland and MPs and MSPs;

- representation of constituents by different tiers of elected members.

1 3.2 The recommendations include –

(1) The current mixed member system for electing the Scottish Parliament should be retained, but with open lists to increase voter choice.

(2) Constituency and regional boundaries for the Scottish Parliament should be based on local authority areas rather than Westminster constituencies, with the regions revised to better reflect natural local communities.

(3) Candidates for election to the Scottish Parliament should not be prohibited from standing in a Constituency and on the Regional List.

(4) Clearer and more positive roles should be developed for Constituency and Regional MSPs.

(5) The system should be introduced for European Parliamentary elections.

(6) Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections should be held on different days.

3.3 A summary of the Commission’s 24 recommendations are set out in the appendix hereto. The recommendations at (2) and (6) above are of particular interest in a local government context. In relation to (2) it will be recalled that following the last review of Westminster Parliamentary Constituency boundaries the Argyll and Bute Parliamentary Constituency boundaries were fixed co- terminus with those of the Council. During the course of the Parliamentary boundary Review the Council had advocated that as an outcome, which is to be welcomed in terms of ease of understanding for electors, the administration of elections, and for the relationships between public and other organisations within Argyll and Bute with the MP. It might be desirable to hope that the outcome of the Arbuthnott recommendation will be a review of Scottish Parliament Constituency boundaries that might achieve co-terminosity with the Council boundary.

3.4 Recommendation (6) echoes much that has already been said by COSLA, local authorities and electoral practitioners about de- coupling the Scottish Parliament and local government elections. The Ministerial response so far appears not to accept that recommendation (at least for 2007).

Nigel Stewart Director of Corporate Services 2 February 2006

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