ARO Proposal
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Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response 01 July 2019 Dear Sir/Madam Please find below my comments on the review. Since the last polling districts and polling places review in 2015, all venues have been kept under regular appraisal and reflect the on-going changes that have occurred within the intervening years. Therefore the approach I have taken is to ensure consistency and certainty for members of the public by only making changes to polling districts and polling stations if it is necessary. Additionally changes have been proposed which directly benefit the voter experience in the polling station by reducing the maximum number of potential voters in the station and thus reducing the risk of queues. Current and future choices of polling station have been primarily based on the availability of potential venues coupled to the following criteria:- A venue reachable for all voters regardless as to the means of travelling there. A venue within 1 mile safe walking distance. No more than 1,500 polling station electors (based on projected 2023 electorate numbers) at a venue, unless the venue is capable of being a dual station – 2 polling stations within one building). Polling station must stay within the ward. A voter must not walk past another in-use polling station to get to their own one. Minimise the use of Portacabins. In summary I have recommended the following changes to polling district boundaries which affect 17 wards:- 3 polling districts to be deleted 8 new ones created 46 boundary changes. Additionally I have recommended changes to polling stations which affect 17 wards and include:- 21 polling station changes 11 requests for suggestions for alternatives for specific polling districts. Yours faithfully Tim O’Gara Acting Returning Officer Bristol City Council Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response Why boundary changes have been proposed Between the last review in 2015 and projected to the mid-point that proposed changes will be in force for (2021), the population of Bristol City is expected to increase by nearly 6%. By considering trend analysis of population increases, and known developments within the city, these proposals are being made to ensure that the arrangements are fit for purpose both now and into the future. Why some wards have a proposed increase in the number of polling districts In addition to the increased electorate expected to be voting in each ward, as Acting Returning Officer I am required to ensure that polling stations are fit for purpose. Part of this requirement is to ensure that the voter experience is free from interruption and delivered in an efficient way with queues kept to a minimum. Where polling districts have substantially more than 1,500 electors I have proposed either splitting the polling district into two or moving voters to another polling district. It should be noted that splitting a polling district into 2 does not normally increase staffing levels as the existing number of staff are employed across the 2 stations handling the same number of voters, but employed in a more efficient manner. Additionally where polling districts have been split, they are mostly within the same venue, but using distinct separate areas or rooms. Hence costs are kept approximately the same. Definitions What is a Polling District? A polling district is the area created by the sub-division of a parliamentary constituency into smaller parts. A polling district will not breach ward boundaries. On polling day all electors in a polling district will attend the same polling place to vote (unless they have opted to vote by post). One copy of the electoral register will be produced for each polling district, listing the electors in that polling district. What is a Polling Place? A ‘polling place’ is the geographical area, in which a polling station is located. It must be designated so that polling stations are within easy reach of all electors from across the polling district. What is a Polling Station? A polling station is the actual area where the process of voting takes place, e.g. a room in a community centre or school. 2 | P a g e Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response Bristol City Council Ward Ashley No. of Ward Councillors 3 Total No. of Voters in Polling Stations 1 13,352 Total No. of Polling Stations 11 (3 duals, 3 singles, 2 TBC) UK Parliamentary Constituency Bristol West Polling District Physical Location See ward map My proposals for polling stations and alterations to polling district boundaries are set out below. Polling Polling Place Current Polling Station Proposed Change District Boundary Polling Station No. of Voters in Change Change Polling Station *1 ASHA Whole of Polling District St Bartholomew's Church - Upper Hall, No No change 1,317 Walsingham Road, BS6 5BT ASHB Whole of Polling District Sefton Park Infants & Junior School, St No No change 1.094 Bartholomew's Road, BS7 9BJ ASHC Whole of Polling District St Bartholomew's Church - Upper Hall, No No change 1,056 Sommerville Road, BS6 5BZ ASHD Whole of Polling District Salvation Army Citadel, 6 Ashley Road, No No change 949 BS6 5NL ASHE Whole of Polling District Ivy Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of No No change 1,064 God, Ashley Hill, BS6 5JD ASHF Whole of Polling District Ivy Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of No No change 1,425 God, Ashley Hill, BS6 5JD ASHG Whole of Polling District St Werburgh's Community Centre, Horley No No change 1,428 Road, BS2 9TJ ASHH Whole of Polling District Salvation Army Citadel, 6 Ashley Road, No No change 1,487 BS6 5NL ASHJ Whole of Polling District Malcolm X Community Centre, 141 City No No change 1,404 Road, BS2 8YH ASHK Whole of Polling District St Paul's Community Sports Academy, Yes3 Suggestions for alternative polling 1,126 Newfoundland Road, BS2 9NH stations that meet the needs of all voters are welcome. 3 | P a g e Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response ASHL4 Whole of Polling District N/A New one4 Suggestions for alternative polling 1,002 stations that meet the needs of all voters are welcome. Acting Returning Officer’s comments 1) Figures are based on population trend analysis predictions up to 2023 and known building developments within the ward. 2) Feedback is welcome, including suggestions for alternative polling stations that meet the needs of all voters. 3) ASHK: Split into 2 (ASHK and ASHL) to avoid queues in polling station and to improve efficiency of staff in the polling station. 4) ASHL: New polling district. Formed from ASHK. 4 | P a g e Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response Bristol City Council Ward Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston No. of Ward Councillors 3 Total No. of Voters in Polling Stations 1 13,898 Total No. of Polling Stations 10 (0 duals, 7 singles, 3 TBC) UK Parliamentary Constituency Bristol North West Polling District Physical Location See ward map My proposals for polling stations and alterations to polling district boundaries are set out below. Polling Polling Place Current Polling Station Proposed Change District Boundary Polling Station No. of Voters in Change Change Polling Station *1 AVLA Whole of Polling District Avonmouth Community Centre, No No change 1,489 Avonmouth Road, BS11 9EN AVLB Whole of Polling District Antona Court (Rear Access), Antona No Suggestions for alternative polling 1,639 Drive, BS11 9RL stations that meet the needs of all voters are welcome. AVLC Whole of Polling District Lawrence Weston Baptist Church, 117 - No No change 1,458 119 Long Cross, BS11 0HL AVLD Whole of Polling District The Rock Community Centre Ltd, St No No change 1,627 Peter's Church, Ridingleaze, BS11 0QF AVLE Whole of Polling District Lawrence Weston Youth Centre, No No change 1,551 Lawrence Weston Road, BS11 0RX AVLF Whole of Polling District Jim O`Neil House, Kilminster Road, BS11 No No change 1,543 9ZE AVLG Whole of Polling District Shirehampton Public Hall, 32 Station No No change 1,521 Road, BS11 9TX AVLH Whole of Polling District Stow House, Nibley Road, BS11 9UY No No change 1,058 AVLJ Whole of Polling District Sea Mills Library, Sylvan Way, BS9 2NA No Suggestions for alternative polling 955 stations that meet the needs of all voters are welcome. AVLK Whole of Polling District Sea Mills Library, Sylvan Way, BS9 2NA No Suggestions for alternative polling 1,057 stations that meet the needs of all voters are welcome. 5 | P a g e Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response Acting Returning Officer’s comments 1) Figures are based on population trend analysis predictions up to 2023 and known building developments within the ward. 2) Feedback is welcome, including suggestions for alternative polling stations that meet the needs of all voters. 6 | P a g e Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2019 Acting Returning Officer’s response Bristol City Council Ward Bedminster No. of Ward Councillors 2 Total No. of Voters in Polling Stations 1 8,536 Total No. of Polling Stations 6 (2 duals, 2 singles) UK Parliamentary Constituency Bristol South Polling District Physical Location See ward map My proposals for polling stations and alterations to polling district boundaries are set out below. Polling Polling Place Current Polling Station Proposed Change District Boundary Polling Station No. of Voters in Change Change Polling Station *1 BEDA Whole of Polling District St Aldhelm's Scout Hall,