Local Government Boundary Commission For England Report No. 270 XOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND REPORT NO. 270 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND CHAIRMAN' Sir Edmund Compton GCB KBE. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Mr J M Rankin QC MEMBERS Lady Bowden Mr J T Brockbank Professor Michael Chisholm Mr R R Thornton CB DL Sir Andrew Wheatley CBE To the Rt Hon Merlyn Rees, MP Secretary of State for the Home Department PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BOROUGH OF COPELAND IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBRIA 1. We, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, having carried out our initial review of the electoral arrangements for the Borough of Copeland, in accordance with the requirements of section 63 of, and Schedule 9 to, the Local Government Act 1972, present our proposals for the future electoral arrangements for that borough. 2. In accordance with the procedure laid down in section 60(1) and (2) of the 1972 Act, notice was given on 19 August 197^ that we were to undertake this review* This was incorporated in a consultation letter addressed to Copeland Borough Council, copies of which were circulated to Cumbria County Council, parish councils and parish meetings in the borough, the Member of Parliament for the constituency concerned and the headquarters of the main political parties- Copies were also sent to the editors of the local newspapers circulating in the area and of the local government press. Notices inserted in the local press announced the start of the review and invited comments from members of the public and from interested bodies. % The Copeland Borough Council were invited to prepare a draft scheme of representation for our consideration. When doing so, they were asked to observe the rules laid down in Schedule 11 to the Local Government Act 1972, and the guidelines which we set out in our Report No 6 about the proposed size of the council and the proposed number of councillors for each ward. They were also asked to take into account any views expressed to them following their consul- tation with local interests. We therefore asked that they should publish details of their provisional proposals about a month before they submitted their draft scheme to us, thus allowing an opportunity for local comment. *+. The Borough Council have passed a resolution under section 7(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 requesting the Secretary of State to provide for a system of whole council elections. 5. On 8 April 1975* the Copeland Borough Council presented their draft scheme of representation. They proposed to divide the area of the borough into 25 wards, each returning 1, 2 or 3 members to form a council of 50. 6. We considered the draft scheme submitted by the Borough Council, the comments which had been made on it, and an alternative scheme from a local councillor. We noted that a number of wards proposed by the Council were incorrectly represented. In order -to achieve a more equitable standard of representation, we decided to reduce by one the number of councillors proposed for each of four wards and to increase by one that of a fifth. This resulted in a reduction in the proposed size of the council from 50 members to ^7. We also decided to change the name of one ward in response to a request, and to accept some boundary modifications suggested by Ordnance Survey. Subject to these modifications, we adopted the Council's draft scheme as our draft proposals. 7. On 17 November I975i we issued our draft proposals and these were sent to all .who had received our consultation letter or had commented on the Council's draft scheme. The Council were asked to make the draft proposals, and the accompanying maps which defined the proposed ward boundaries, available for inspection at their main offices. Representations on our draft proposals were invited from those to whom they were circulated and, by public notices, from members of the public and interested bodies. We asked that comments should • reach us by 19 January 1976. 8. COpeland Borough Council opposed the changes which we had made to their draft scheme. The majority party on Cumbria County Council opposed the draft proposals for some northern wards, whilst the minority party accepted the . boundaries in the draft proposals. One parish council suggested the regrouping of some parishes, and two others sought additional representation i one of them was supported by a petition. Another petition sought a change to a proposed ward boundary in Whitehaven. 9. In view of these comments, we felt we needed more information to enable us to reach a conclusion. Therefore, in accordance with Section 65(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, and at our request, Mr P P Bayley-Brown was appointed as Assistant Commissioner to hold a local meeting and report to us. Notice of the meeting was sent to all who had received our draft proposals, or had commented on them, and was published locally. 10. The Assistant Commissioner held the meeting in the Civic Hall, V/hitehaven, on 29 October 19?6 and visited the areas which were the subject of comment. A copy of his report to us is at Schedule 1 to our report. 11. In the light of the discussion at the meeting and his inspection of the area the Assistant Commissioner recommended that our draft proposals should be modified by the allocation of an additional member to each of the Bransty, Seascale and Newtown wards; and by the division of the 3Haember Mirehouse ward into two 2-member wards. The effect of these modifications is to increase the size of council to 51. He also proposed boundary adjustments affecting the Harbour, Hillcrest and Hensingham wards and his recommended new Mirehouse East ward. 12. We reviewed our draft proposals in the light of the commentswhich we had received and of the Assistant Commissioner's report. We concluded that the recommendations made by the Assistant Commissioner should be accepted and, subject to the modifications he had suggested, we decided to confirm our draft proposals as our final proposals. 13. Details of these proposals are set out in Schedule 2 to this report and on the attached maps. Schedule 2 gives the names of the wards and the number of councillors to be returned hy each. The boundaries of the new wards are defined on .the attached maps. A detailed description of the proposed ward boundaries as shown on the maps IB set out in Schedule jj to this report. PUBLICATION 1*1. In accordance with Section 6o(5)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 a copy of this report and copies of the maps are being sent to Copeland Borough Council and will be available for public inspection at the Council's main offices. Copies of this report (without maps) are being sent to those who received the consultation letter and to those who made comments. L.S. Signed: EDMUND COMPTON (CHAIRMAN) JOHN M RANKIN (DEPUTY CHAIRMAN) PHYLLIS BOWDEN J T BROCKBANK MICHAEL CHISHOLM R R THORNTON ANDREW WHEATLEY N DIGNEY 22 September 1977 SCHEDULE 1 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND COUNTY - CUMBRIA DISTRICT - COPELAND REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS BOROUGH OF COPELAND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER'S REPORT ON LOCAL MEETING of some parishes, and two others sought additional representation j one of them was supported by a petition. Another petition sought a change to a proposed ward boundary in Whitehaven. 9. In view of these comments, we felt we needed more information to enable us to reach a conclusion. Therefore, in accordance with Section 65(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, and at our request, Mr P P Bayley-Brown was appointed as Assistant Commissioner to hold a local meeting and report to us. Notice of the meeting was sent to all who had received our draft proposals, or had commented on them, and was published locally. 10. The Assistant Commissioner held the meeting in the Civic Hall, Whitehaven, on 29 October 19?6 and visited the areas which were the subject of comment. A copy of his report to us is at Schedule 1 to our report. 11. In the light of the discussion at the meeting and his inspection of the area the Assistant Commissioner recommended that our draft proposals should be modified by the allocation of an additional member to each of the Bransty, Seascale and Newtown wards; and by the division of the 3^-member ' Mirehouse ward into two 2-member wards. The effect of these modifications is to increase the size of council to 51. He also proposed boundary adjustments affecting the Harbour, Hillcrest and Hensingham wards and his recommended new Mirehouse East ward. 12. V/e reviewed our draft proposals in the light of the comments which we had received and of the Assistant Commissioner's report. We concluded that the recommendations made by the Assistant Commissioner should be accepted and, subject to the modifications he had suggested, we decided to confirm our draft proposals as our final proposals. 15. Details of those proposals are set out in Schedule 2 to this report and on the attached maps. Schedule 2 gives the names of the wards and the number of .TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION. FOR ENGLAND Ladies and Gentlemen, Borough o£ Copeland - Review of Electoral Arrangements. Report of Local Meeting. I have the honour to report to you as follows. By letter dated the 10th August 1976 I was appointed by the Home Secretary pursuant to Section 65 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972. as Assistant Commissioner to hold a local enquiry or carry out any consultation or investigation in respect of the review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England of the electoral arrangements for the Borough of Copeland in the County of Cumbria.