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THIS REPORT RELATES COUNCIL TO ITEM 8 ON THE AGENDA

STIRLING COUNCIL CIVIC SERVICES

8 October 1998 NOT EXEMPT

REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES

1 PURPOSE

1.1 To seek approval of the polling places and polling districts detailed in the polling scheme attached as Appendix 1.

2 SUMMARY

2.1 Stirling Council is required to divide its local government area into polling districts and to designate the polling places for those polling districts. On 5 March 1998 the Council considered the Boundary Commission’s proposals for the division of the Stirling Local Government Area into 22 electoral wards as part of the statutory review of electoral boundaries. The Commission has recently published its final recommendations for the Stirling Council area which are the subject of a separate report on the Agenda.

2.2 The Secretary of State has indicated that the Local Government elections and the elections to the will take place on 6 May 1999, with the local elections conducted on the basis of the new electoral wards. As a result, new polling districts and polling places for the new wards require to be confirmed to allow the 1999 draft register of electors to be prepared and subsequently published.

2.3 On 25 June 1998, the Council considered a report outlining the preliminary work undertaken by Officers in looking at the location, suitability and availability of premises within the new electoral wards which could serve as polling places. The proposed polling places were approved in principle to assist the process of drafting polling districts. The Council is now asked to approve the polling districts and polling places which will form the polling scheme for the Local Government Area. Copies of the maps showing the electoral wards and the proposed polling districts are available in the Members’ Lounge.

3 RECOMMENDATION(S)

3.1 To approve for elections held in respect of the new wards the proposed polling districts and polling places detailed in the polling scheme attached as Appendix 1 to the report. 3.2 To delegate authority to the Director of Civic Services to agree any minor alterations or adjustments to polling districts or polling places required as a result of the finalisation of the new wards or in the interests of efficient conduct of elections.

4 CONSIDERATIONS

Polling Districts

4.1 The Local Authority has a duty to divide its area into polling districts with a view to giving all electors in the area such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances. Each electoral area established for the purpose of Local Government Elections which is within the Parliamentary Constituency, and those areas which are partly within the constituency and partly within another constituency, must, in the absence of special circumstances be a separate polling district or districts.

4.2 The Parliamentary boundary cuts across a number of the proposed new wards. In some cases this has resulted in very small polling districts being created. In a couple of cases the Parliamentary constituency boundary overlaps with the ward boundary in a small geographical area which contains a few electors, or in some cases, no electors. Representations will be made to the Boundary Commission for minor changes in the ward boundaries to eliminate these anomalies. It is recommended that the Director of Civic Services should have delegated authority to agree minor alterations in the polling districts as required as a result of finalisation of the new wards.

Polling Places

4.3 The relevant election regulations require that polling places:-

• provide for all electors in the polling district such facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances;

• so far as is reasonable and practicable, provide reasonable access to voters who are disabled or infirm.

4.4 In preparing the list of proposed polling places Officers looked at the following key issues:-

• accessibility to the polling place and polling station(s) for able bodied electors and, in particular, those who are wheelchair users or have other mobility difficulties;

• adequacy of the parking facilities;

• convenience of the premises for all voters

• minimising the use of primary schools where possible and the associated disruption caused to children’s education.

4.5 Officers have tried to ensure that wherever possible only premises with disabled access will be used as polling places. In addition, primary schools will only be used where suitable alternative venues are not as convenient as the school or do not provide as wide a range of the necessary facilities.

4.6 It has not always been possible to identify suitable premises for use as polling places within each polling district. As a result, the Appendix does include the use of some premises which are located close to the ward boundaries but lend themselves to use by voters in more than one polling district.

4.7 Members should be aware that the Appendix includes proposals to use a number of privately owned or grant aided premises as designated polling places. Contact has been made with the owners or occupiers of such premises to discuss the use of the premises. In a number of cases discussions are ongoing and no formal decision has been reached. It is therefore recommended that the Director of Civic Services should have delegated authority to approve changes in the designation of polling places where the privately owned or grant aided premises prove to be unavailable or unsuitable, or where otherwise necessary in the interests of efficient conduct of the election.

4.8 It is recognised that in a small number of areas the only suitable premises available for use as polling places have steps at the entrance and in some cases within the actual polling stations. Officers will undertake to investigate the provision of temporary or permanent ramped access at such locations prior to the elections in May 1999.

5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The process of reviewing the polling districts and polling places is in line with the Council’s strategic aims of social inclusion and promoting local democracy.

6 CONSULTATIONS

6.1 All Elected Members and Community Councils were invited to submit comments/suggestions on premises suitable for use as polling places.

6.2 Officers also intend to consult with local disability groups about any potential access problems in relation to the proposed polling places and seek their advice and assistance in identifying solutions to improve access.

6.3 Contact will also be maintained with Officers from Clackmannanshire Council in relation to the arrangements for the polling districts and polling places located within the Ochil constituency.

7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

7.1 Staffing resources required to conduct the review of polling places and polling districts have been provided within the existing staff allocations.

There may be additional resource implications associated with the provision of temporary or permanent disabled access to some polling places. 8 BACKGROUND PAPERS

8.1 Local Government () 1994.

8.2 Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements - Stirling Council - Report to the Secretary of State for Scotland dated 1998.

Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension

Joyce Allen Committee Officer 3370

Approved by Name Designation Signature

Bob Jack Director of Civic Services

Date Reference

POLSTAT1.DOC POLLING SCHEME

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 1 - SAA S500 Ochil Allan Centre, Also used in Ward 3 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan

SAQ S503 Stirling Allan Centre, Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan

Ward 2 - Logie SBA S506 Ochil The Reading Room,

SBB S509 Ochil Murray Hall,

SBJ S512 Ochil Logie Church Hall, Also used in Ward 3 Alloa Road, Stirling

SBP S515 Stirling Logie Church Hall, Alloa Road, Stirling

Ward 3 - Wallace SCA S518 Ochil Allan Centre, Also used in Ward 1 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan

SCC S521 Stirling Community Centre, Also used in Ward 4 Johnston Avenue, Cornton

SCH S524 Stirling Logie Church Hall, Also used in Ward 2 Alloa Road, Stirling

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 2 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 4 - SDG S530 Stirling Ochil Centre Also used in Ward 3 Ochil Crescent Raploch Stirling

SDK S533 Stirling St Mary’s RC Primary School, Access to polling station Raploch Road, needs to be looked at Raploch

Ward 5 - Town Centre SEF S536 Stirling Albert Halls, Also used in Ward 7 Dumbarton Road, Stirling

SEK S539 Stirling Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling

Ward 6 - SFD S545 Stirling Village Hall Cambuskenneth

SFH S548 Stirling Riverside Primary School, Access to the Polling Place Forrest Road, needs to be looked at Stirling

SFT S551 Stirling Braehead Primary School, Springfield Road, Braehead

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 3 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 7 - King’s Park and SGC S554 Stirling Albert Halls, Also used in Ward 5 Dumbarton Road, Stirling

SGM S557 Stirling Cambusbarron Community Also used in Ward 8 Centre, Cambusbarron

Ward 8 - Torbrex SHA S560 Stirling Cambusbarron Community Also used in Ward 7 Centre, Cambusbarron

SHB S563 Stirling St Ninians Primary School, Also used in Ward 10 Torbrex Road, St Ninians

SHC S566 Stirling Old Viewforth, Pitt Terrace, Stirling

Ward 9 - SIA S569 Stirling Mayfield Centre, Mayfield Street, St Ninians

Ward 10 - Borestone SJA S572 Stirling St Ninians Primary School, Also used in Ward 8 Torbrex Road, St Ninians

SJF S575 Stirling Borestone Primary School, Newpark Crescent, St Ninians, Stirling

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 4 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 11 - West SKA S578 Stirling St Mary’s RC Primary School, Also used in Ward 13 - Park Crescent, access to polling sations Bannockburn needs to be looked at

SKB S581 Stirling Whins of Milton Primary School, Also used in Ward 20 Fairhill Road, Whins of Milton

SKK S584 Ochil St Mary’s RC Primary School, See note 2 Park Crescent, Bannockburn

SKT S587 Stirling Whins of Milton Primary School, Fairhill Road, Whins of Milton

Ward 12 - Bannockburn East SLC S590 Ochil Bannockburn Primary School, Quakerfield, Bannockburn

SLG S593 Stirling Bannockburn Primary School, Quakerfield, Bannockburn

Ward 13 - Polmaise SMA S596 Stirling St Mary’s RC Primary School, Also used in Ward 11 Park Drive, Bannockburn

SMB S599 Ochil Alpha Centre, Lamont Crescent, Fallin

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 5 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 14 - Sauchenford SNA S605 Ochil Cowie Community Centre, Main Street, Cowie

SNB S608 Ochil Balfour Centre, Balfour Crescent,

Ward 15 - West SOQ S611 Stirling Dunblane Primary School, Also used in Ward 16 Road, Dunblane

Ward 16 - Dunblane East SPD S614 Stirling Dunblane Primary School, Also used in Ward 15 Doune Road, Dunblane

SPQ S617 Stirling Victoria Hall, Dunblane

SPS S620 Stirling The Old School Community Centre

Ward 17 - Highland SQA S623 Stirling Primary School, Bridgend, Callander

SQB S626 Stirling Village Hall, Main Street Strathyre

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 6 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 17 - Highland (cont.) SQC S629 Stirling Primary School, Lochearnhead

SQD S632 Stirling Community Centre, Ardeonaig

SQE S635 Stirling McLaren Hall, Main Street,

SQF S638 Stirling Village Hall, Balquhidder

SQP S641 Stirling Village Hall Crianlarich

Ward 18 - Teith SRA S647 Stirling Doune Primary School, Castlehill, Doune

SRB S650 Stirling Primary School, Teith Road, Doune

SRC S653 Stirling Kincardine-in- Primary School, Blairdrummond

SRD S656 Stirling Thornhill Community Hall, Thornhill

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 7 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 19 - SSA S659 Stirling Callander Primary School, Bridgend, Callander

SSB S662 Stirling Primary School, Port of Menteith

SSC S665 Stirling Church Hall, Gartmore

SSD S668 Stirling Aberfoyle Primary School, Lochard Road, Aberfoyle

SSE S671 Stirling Village Hall, Kinlochard

SSF S674 Stirling Primary School, Inversnaid

SSG S677 Stirling Trossachs Primary School, Brig O’Turk

Ward 20 - Campsies STA S680 Stirling Community Centre, Leckie Road, Gargunnock

STB S683 Stirling Primary School, Main Street, Kippen

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 8 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 20 - Campsies (cont.) STH S686 Stirling Primary School, Station Road, Buchlyvie

STM S689 Stirling Primary School, Culcreuch Road, Fintry

STS S692 Stirling Whins of Milton Primary School, Also used in Ward 11 Fairhill Road, Whins of Milton, Stirling

Ward 21 - Strathendrick SWC S695 Stirling Primary School, Access to polling stations Moor Road, needs to be looked at Balfron

SWG S698 Stirling Public Library Access to polling place needs to be looked at

SWS S701 Stirling Memorial Hall,

SWT S704 Stirling Nursery, Croftamie

SWX S707 Stirling Primary School, Also used in Ward 22 - Crosshead Road, access to polling place Killearn needs to be looked at

Ward 22 - Blane Valley SYA S710 Stirling Killearn Primary School, Also used in Ward 21 Crosshead Road, Killearn

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 9 -

Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y

Ward 22 - Blane Valley (cont.) SYD S713 Stirling Primary School, Access to polling place Southview Road, and polling stations needs to be looked at

COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1