Egan, Helen

From: Neil Crabtree < Sent: 24 February 2015 21:26 To: Cooper, Mark Cc: Reviews@ Subject: District County Council Revised Division Boundaries Attachments: KCC Sevenoaks Ward Pattern proposal 2015.docx; SevenoaksCountyCouncilDivisionElectors.xlsx

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Dear Mark

Many thanks for your assistance in the confirmation of the calculation of the average electors per division for Kent. I also received some very helpful input and information from the Electoral Services and GSI departments at Council.

Based on this data I have put together a proposal for county divisional boundaries for the Sevenoaks District and please find this attached. I also have attached a spreadsheet based on your Kent-Electorate-Form-FINAL1.xlsx and which uses the same formula and conditional formatting.

If you do need any further information from me I will of course be more than happy to provide whatever I am able.

I will send a signed copy by post.

With kind regards

Neil Crabtree

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24 February 2015

Mr. Mark Cooper Local Boundary Commission for 3rd Floor, Layden House 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG

Dear Mark

Kent County Council Boundary Review: Proposed Ward Pattern – Sevenoaks District

Many thanks for your assistance in clarifying some points, particularly the basis of the average size of the electors per division.

I have proposed a ward pattern, in line with your guidelines, so that each councillor in the Sevenoaks District will have approximately the same number of electors and well within the +/- 10% margin around the mean value for Councillors in Kent . These new electoral divisions will be able to be represented effectively by their councillors.

I have also proposed a divisional pattern which I think reflects the strong community interests particularly of Sevenoaks itself and its immediate surrounding areas of Seal and the , and also to an extent of the other areas within the greater Sevenoaks District.

In the attached supporting documentation I have followed your guidelines and of course hope that I have made a strong and cogent case.

Should you need any clarification please do contact me.

Yours sincerely

Neil Crabtree

Proposal for the Kent County Council Boundary Review - Sevenoaks District

1. Electoral Equality for voters.

The details are provided in the accompanying spreadsheet which is based on the Local Government Boundary Commission for England spreadsheet Kent- Electorate-Form-FINAL1.xlsx. The average number of electors per councillor for all electors in Kent based on year 2020 elector number projections and on the required 81 councillors are 14,288. This proposal for Sevenoaks District provides for 6 councillors, and the proposed range of elector numbers is from 14,160 to 15,416 all well within the +/- 10% band around the mean as shown below:

Electors per new divisions and variance from the mean:

Cllrs per Electorate Electorate Variance Name of division division 2013 2020 2020

Darent Valley 1 14,160 13,827 -3% Sevenoaks Central 1 14,408 14,357 0% Sevenoaks East 1 14,519 14,925 4% Sevenoaks North East 1 14,628 14,154 -1% Sevenoaks South 1 15,591 15,343 7% 1 15,442 15,416 8% Total Electors: 88,748 88,022

Basis of average elector per councillor: KCC Overall Average Electors 2013 2020 Number of councillors: 84 81 Overall electorate: 1,092,651 1,157,343 Average electorate per councillor: 13,008 14,288 Average electorate +10% 14,309 15,717 Average electorate -10% 11,707 12,859

Suggested revised Division names:

Current Division Name Proposed New Division Name

Darent Valley Darent Valley Sevenoaks Central Sevenoaks Central South East Sevenoaks East or West Sevenoaks Rural North West Sevenoaks North East Sevenoaks North East Sevenoaks South Sevenoaks Rural South West Swanley Swanley

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Existing County Electoral Divisions

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Proposed County Electoral Divisions

Swanley

Sevenoaks North East Darent Valley

Sevenoaks Rural North West

Sevenoaks Central South East

Sevenoaks Rural South West

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Proposed County Electoral Divisions with Polling District Boundaries

Swanley

Darent Valley Sevenoaks North East

Sevenoaks Rural North West

Sevenoaks Central South East

Sevenoaks Rural South West

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Polling Districts in Proposed revised County Divisions for Sevenoaks District: Polling District Electorate Electorate District ward Ward Name County division 2013 2020 2010 2015

AM AN and Crocken Hill Darent Valley 1,329 1,287 CG CH Crockenhill and Well Hill Well Hill Darent Valley 210 203 AU AV Eynsford Darent Valley 1,502 1,459 AV AW , and South Farningham Darent Valley 1,067 1,041 BD BE Farningham, Horton Kirby and Horton Kirby Darent Valley 978 953 BE BF Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth South Darenth Darent Valley 1,744 1,701 CE AE Halstead, and Badgers Mount Darent Valley 529 520 N/A CF and Shoreham (New Ward) Darent Valley AX AY Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount Halstead Darent Valley 1,266 1,244 BH BI Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount Knockholt Darent Valley 987 971 CF CG Otford and Shoreham Shoreham Darent Valley 886 860 CO CO Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village Darent Valley 348 371 BF BG Kemsing East Darent Valley 1,734 1,683 BG BH Kemsing Kemsing West Darent Valley 1,580 1,534 Total Darent Valley Electors: 14160 13827 BT BU Sevenoaks Town and St John's High Street Sevenoaks Central South East 1,313 1,350 BU BV Sevenoaks Eastern Hillingdon Sevenoaks Central South East 1,288 1,245 BV BW Sevenoaks Eastern Hollybush Sevenoaks Central South East 1,736 1,679 BW BX Sevenoaks Kippington Kippington North Sevenoaks Central South East 1,019 1,013 BX BY Sevenoaks Kippington Kippington South Sevenoaks Central South East 1,056 1,050 BY BZ Sevenoaks Town and St John's Lower St.Johns Sevenoaks Central South East 843 867 BZ CA Sevenoaks Kippington Sevenoaks Common Sevenoaks Central South East 1,334 1,326 CA CB Sevenoaks Town and St John's Tubs Hill Sevenoaks Central South East 1,243 1,278 CB CC Sevenoaks Town and St John's Upper St. Johns Sevenoaks Central South East 1,380 1,419 BN BO Seal and Weald Seal St. Lawrence Sevenoaks Central South East 344 337 BO BP Seal and Weald Seal Sevenoaks Central South East 1,301 1,274 BP BQ Seal and Weald Sevenoaks Central South East 270 264

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CC CD Seal and Weald Wildernesse Sevenoaks Central South East 331 324 CD CE Seal and Weald Sevenoaks Central South East 950 931 Total Sevenoaks Central South East Electors: 14,408 14,357 BM BN and Riverhead Riverhead Sevenoaks Rural North West 1,833 2,152 AN AO Dunton Green and Riverhead Dunton Green Sevenoaks Rural North West 1,727 2,028 BJ BK Otford and Shoreham Otford Sevenoaks Rural North West 2,741 2,662 BQ BR Sevenoaks Northern Bat&Ball Sevenoaks Rural North West 791 795 BR BS Sevenoaks Northern Bradbourne Sevenoaks Rural North West 1,187 1,192 BS BT Sevenoaks Northern Greatness Sevenoaks Rural North West 1,171 1,177 AE AF , Chevening and Sundridge Brasted Sevenoaks Rural North West 774 751 AF AG Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge Sevenoaks Rural North West 373 362 AG AH Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge Chevening Sevenoaks Rural North West 2,382 2,311 CH CI Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge Sevenoaks Rural North West 529 514 CI CJ Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge Sundridge Sevenoaks Rural North West 1,011 981 Total Sevenoaks Rural North West Electors: 14,519 14,925 AA AA Ash and Ash Sevenoaks North East 309 296 AB AB Hartley and Hodsoll Street Hodsoll Street & Ridley Sevenoaks North East 433 420 AC AC Ash and New Ash Green New Ash Green North W Sevenoaks North East 2,133 2,043 AD AD Ash and New Ash Green New Ash Green South E Sevenoaks North East 2,341 2,242 AW AX and Fawkham Sevenoaks North East 453 440 AY AZ Hartley and Hodsoll Street Hartley North Sevenoaks North East 2,296 2,231 AZ BA Hartley and Hodsoll Street Hartley South Sevenoaks North East 2,215 2,153 CS CS Fawkham and West Kingsdown East Hill Sevenoaks North East 282 274 CT CT Fawkham and West Kingsdown Knatts Valley Sevenoaks North East 219 213 CU CU Fawkham and West Kingsdown West Kingsdown East Sevenoaks North East 1,235 1,202 CV CV Fawkham and West Kingsdown West Kingsdown – Hever Sevenoaks North East 2,712 2,640 Total Sevenoaks North East Electors: 14,628 14,154 AH AI , and Sevenoaks Rural South West 245 239 AI AJ Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway Sevenoaks Rural South West 313 327 AJ AK Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone Sevenoaks Rural South West 172 168 AK AL Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone Chiddingstone Village Sevenoaks Rural South West 210 204

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AL AM and Hever Cowden Sevenoaks Rural South West 632 608 AO AP Edenbridge North and East Marlpit Hill Sevenoaks Rural South West 1,559 1,525 AP AQ Edenbridge South and West Marsh Green Sevenoaks Rural South West 336 329 AQ AR Edenbridge South and West Pound Green Sevenoaks Rural South West 1,081 1,059 AR AS Edenbridge North and East Spitals Cross Sevenoaks Rural South West 1,204 1,178 AS AT Edenbridge South and West Stangrove & South End Sevenoaks Rural South West 1,779 1,744 AT AU Edenbridge North and East Town Sevenoaks Rural South West 920 900 BA BB Cowden and Hever Sevenoaks Rural South West 491 473 BB BC Cowden and Hever Hever Sevenoaks Rural South West 492 474 BI BJ Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway Leigh Sevenoaks Rural South West 1,457 1,522 BK BL Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone Fordcombe Sevenoaks Rural South West 592 576 BL BM Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone Penshurst Sevenoaks Rural South West 770 749 CQ CQ and Crockham Hill Sevenoaks Rural South West 558 546 CR CR Westerham and Crockham Hill Westerham Sevenoaks Rural South West 2,780 2,722 Total Sevenoaks Rural South West Electors: 15,591 15,343 CK CK Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village Christ Church Swanley 2,043 2,181 CL CL Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village High Firs Swanley 2,102 2,244 BC BD Hextable Swanley 3,403 3,282 CJ N/A Swanley White Oak (Merged with White Oak) Birchwood Swanley 1,020 1,001 CM CM Swanley St Mary's St. Mary's Swanley 3,201 3,103 CN CN Swanley White Oak Swanley Lane Swanley 1,603 1,573 CP CP Swanley White Oak White Oak Swanley 2,070 2,032 Total Swanley Electors: 15,442 15,416 Total Electors: 88,748 88,022

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2. Community Identity (Sevenoaks Central/Central South East)

2.1. Transport Links: The proposed Central South East division has excellent transport links from each of Seal, the Weald, Underriver and Wildernesse and also excellent road networks within and to the centre of Sevenoaks. There is a main line station at Sevenoaks with regular services to London Cannon Street and Charing Cross approximately every ½ hour and also to the South Coast. The station is used extensively on a daily basis by residents from the proposed district.

There is a bus station in the centre of Sevenoaks with services to outlying districts provided by Arriva, Metro Bus and Go Coach.

There is a thriving taxi service from both the centre of Sevenoaks and from Sevenoaks station. At peak times there can be 40 to 50 taxis plying their trade.

2.2. Community Groups: There are numerous Community groups in the division including the Sevenoaks Society which is an association of local people who seek to influence positively decisions on the development of Sevenoaks, its facilities and transport systems so that the decisions are made for the long term benefit of the community, the Sevenoaks Historical Society the aim of which is to promote an interest in local history and the Sevenoaks Town Partnership which is committed to combining resources and developing innovative and achievable projects to boost the Sevenoaks local economy. Members include Sevenoaks Town Council, Sencio, Chamber of Commerce, Sevenoaks Chronicle, Bligh’s, House, retailers and local businesses. The Sevenoaks Town Council Sports Strategy meeting brings together all the sporting organisations from the division to discuss ways of improving and sharing sports facilities. All of these organisations are concerned with issues and facilities primarily relevant to the residents and organisations of the proposed Sevenoaks Central South East division.

Other important community organisations include Mencap and Sevenoaks Area Mind who have their own meeting halls and Age Concern and there are many smaller organisations organising children’s holiday activities, dance classes.

2.3. Facilities:

Shopping: Sevenoaks Town Centre is and will remain the main shopping centre for the proposed division of Sevenoaks Central South East including, the Wildernesse, Seal, Underriver and the Weald. The town centre hosts a Waitrose supermarket, Tesco supermarket, a Marks and Spencer store, Boots, Crown Post Office, and also has many good ladies hairdressers and boutique clothes stores, Estate Agents, hardware stores and travel agents. In fact all the shopping facilities that people need to use on a regular basis. There are also several markets i.e. one a general market in the town centre next to the bus station, a Country market providing fresh local produce and from time to time a Continental market.

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Medical: The town has several medical and dental centres situated across the town area. These include Sevenoaks Hospital, Amherst Medical Practice, the Manor Clinic, St. Johns Hill Medical Practice, South Park Medical Practice, Town Medical Centre; Dentists include Eustace and partners, DenPlan and many more. Residents further afield use the facilities in Edenbridge and Westerham i.e. other residential centres albeit on a smaller scale.

Leisure Facilities: There are many, clubs, organisations and leisure facilities for the communities in the Central South East division. These include the Sevenoaks Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool, (which provides a 6 lane 25M Pool, Teaching and Toddler Pool, Gym and Multi Purpose Sports Hall), The Wildernesse Sports centre, which is due to be upgraded, Sevenoaks Library, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, Sevenoaks Hockey Club, Five a side football at Hollybush Recreation Ground, Sevenoaks Cricket Club (who play on the Vine the oldest cricket ground in England), several Tennis clubs, indoor and outdoor bowls, horse riding, the Sevenoaks Ramblers Association and two top class golf clubs, Wildernesse and Knole Park. Other County Divisions largely provide their own facilities.

There are also several theatre facilities at Pamoja Hall Sevenoaks School, the Ship Theatre Walthamstow Hall School and the STAG Theatre which also has a cinema studio. The Stag is supported by many community volunteers.

Each year for two weeks in the summer there is the Sevenoaks Summer Festival held in and around Sevenoaks providing a packed fortnight of varied and quality entertainment for all ages. Urban centres such as Westerham and Edenbridge in other divisions have their own events for example the Westerham Fair on the Green.

Identifiable Boundaries: The boundaries of the Sevenoaks Central South East Division are basically the A21 on the Western side crossing it at the southern end to encompass the village of Sevenoaks Weald, which was formed from the ancient parish of Sevenoaks in 1894. The Northern border is effectively the A25 (slightly north to encompass the village of Seal on the Northern side, and the Eastern border is formed by the border of the Sevenoaks District Council, and passes mainly through wooded and rural areas. The Western and Eastern borders merge at the southern end of Sevenoaks Weald below the .

2.4. Parishes: The parishes within the proposed Central South East division are the Sevenoaks Town Council, Sevenoaks Weald, and Seal the largest by far of these being the Sevenoaks Town Council. The Sevenoaks Town Council is practically co terminus with the Sevenoaks Central part of the proposed division, with 13 out of the 16 councillors representing wards within the Town. The remaining three represent Northern Ward which is currently in any case part of the Sevenoaks East County Council division. The Seal Parish Council already shares half of the Wildernesse Estate at its Eastern End whereas the Sevenoaks Town Council covers the Western side. The Wildernesse Estate

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was created as core acreage around Wildernesse House in 1924 and is bound by Seal Road, Park Lane, Blackhall Lane and Seal Hollow Road, where these roads span the two parishes. The polling stations for Wildernesse and Hillingdon CD and BV are co located. Underriver is a ward of the Seal Parish Council.

2.5. Shared Interests: Although the Weald and Seal parishes are rather more rural than the urban area of Sevenoaks, there are many shared interests, for example rail transport links, where residents of all parishes use Sevenoaks station and the Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association meets regularly with the South Eastern train company to discuss issues arising. Roads of course are a common issue and for example the County Council road lighting policy (extinguishing lights at midnight) is of concern to residents in southern Sevenoaks, the Weald and Seal along the A25. Many of these issues are discussed at the Joint Transportation Board which sits at the Sevenoaks District Council offices in the centre of Sevenoaks. Development on the Wildernesse estate is another example of a shared interest for example the redevelopment of the historic Wildernesse house, which has involved Sevenoaks Town and Seal Parish Councillors as well as Sevenoaks District Councillors for Seal and Weald.

3. Effective Local Government:

3.1. Size of Ward/Division

This has already been addressed in section 1 on Page 1 and this proposal provides for one councillor county divisions, which are all within the required variance from the mean. Sevenoaks Central South East has a rounded down 0% variance.

3.2. District Council Boundaries

As required, no district council boundaries are crossed.

3.3. Coterminosity

The boundaries of the existing district ward boundaries match the boundaries of the proposed county electoral divisions and are accordingly co-terminus. The administrative centre for the Sevenoaks District is located in Argyle Road Sevenoaks in the Sevenoaks Central (Central South East division)

3.4. Doughnut Wards

Not applicable.

3.5. Detached Wards

Not applicable

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3.6. Ward and Electoral Division names

Ward names will be unchanged, although we note that Sevenoaks District Council has re designated Ward letters at the annual publication of the electoral register on 28th November 2014, and has included Romney Street as a new Parish and polling district. Birchwood (CJ) has merged with White Oak.

We suggest the following Division names:

Current Division Name Suggested New Division Name Darent Valley Darent Valley Sevenoaks Central Sevenoaks Central South East

Sevenoaks East/West Sevenoaks Rural North West

Sevenoaks North East Sevenoaks North East Sevenoaks South Sevenoaks Rural South West Swanley Swanley

4. Other Issues

4.1. Area History

We note that the commission do not consider history as strong evidence, however I hope it has been demonstrated that the town of Sevenoaks and its near surrounding areas such as Sevenoaks Weald and the Wildernesse estate have a very strong sense of local community together with Sevenoaks town, for example the Hillingdon area of the town is named after Lord Hillingdon who owned Wildernesse House, the route to which passes through Hillingdon and the Wildernesse Estate before arriving at Wildernesse House. This route is lined by ancient lime trees planted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo and the Duke of Wellington’s visit to Wildernesse House. As already mentioned the Weald is part of the ancient Parish of Sevenoaks and the residents there look to Sevenoaks as the main centre in the area for diverse activities and resources. We hope also that the number of local organisations mentioned above which are concerned specifically with Sevenoaks events and issues lend weight to this submission.

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