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NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL , i.' ---,,sr r\1/2 NI' j 13. ~ REPORT To: THE COUNCIL I Subject: SIXTH REVIEW OF UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES: STATUTORY From: HEAD OF CENTRAL SERVICES CONS ULTAT I0N - WORK IN G GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Purpose of Report 1.I The report provides, for the consideration of the Council, a draft submission as formulated by the United Kingdom Constituencies Working Group, for the statutory consultation on the Sixth Review of United Kingdom Parliamentary Constituencies. 2. Background 2.1 The Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 1 December, having considered a report (copy attached as Appendix 1) on the Sixth Review of United Kingdom Parliamentary Constituencies - Statutory Consultation, agreed that a Working Group comprising Councillors Maginnis, McCabe, Ross, Smith and Welsh be established to formulate the Council's response. 2.2 The attached report sets out the background to and criteria for the constituency review. As indicated in the report, a constituency requires to have an electorate not less than 72,810 and not greater than 80,473. The relevant electorate of North Lanarkshire as at 1 December 2010 was 248,333. It is, accordingly, 42,907 electors short of the minimum number required for four constituencies and 6,914 electors in excess of the maximum number permitted for three constituencies. 2.3 The constituencies as proposed by the Boundary Commission are as set out in Section 3 of the attached report. It will be noted that 0 Kilsyth ward is included in a constituency comprising principally East Dunbartonshire wards 0 Ward No. 19 (Murdostoun) is split between the proposed Airdrie and Coatbridge South Constituency and Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Constituency and 0 The town of Coatbridge is divided between two of the proposed constituencies. 3. Internal Consultation 3.1 In response to a letter to all Councillors inviting views on the Boundary Commission proposals, submissions have been received suggesting that the proposed division of Murdostoun be varied to include, within Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Constituency, the Cambusnethan area and to include within the Airdrie and Coatbridge South Constituency the Cleland area. UK Parliamentary Constituencies.doc 2 3.2 In addition, representations have been received opposing the splitting of Kilsyth from Cumbernauld and the division of Coatbridge. 4. Working Group Proposals 4.1 Having considered the initial proposals formulated by the Boundary Commission, and having taken account of submissions received as a result of the internal consultation, the Working Group agreed 0 That, with regard to the proposals as formulated by the Boundary Commission, the proposed division of Murdostoun Ward is inappropriate and should be varied to remove from Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Constituency and include in Airdrie and Coatbridge South Constituency the Cleland area and to remove from Airdrie and Coatbridge South Constituency and include in Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Constituency the Cambusnethan area; That, further, the initial proposals required to be fundamentally varied and that, in so far as affecting North Lanarkshire, the constituencies should be as follows > Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch Constituency - comprising, from North Lanarkshire: Kilsyth, Cumbernauld North, Cumbernauld South and Abronhill, Kildrum and The Village wards and, from East Dunbartonshire: Kirkintilloch East and Twechar, Lenzie and Kirkintilloch South, Campsie and Kirkintilloch North and part of Bishopbriggs North and Torrance wards; > Coatbridge, Strathkelvin and Baillieston Constituency - comprising, from North Lanarkshire: Strathkelvin, Coatbridge North, Coatbridge West and Coatbridge South wards and, from the City of Glasgow: Baillieston ward; > Airdrie, Shotts and Murdostoun Constituency - comprising Airdrie North, Airdrie Central, Airdrie South, Fortissat, Mossend and Holytown and part of Murdostoun and Motherwell North wards; > Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Constituency - comprising Thorniewood, Bellshill, Motherwell West, Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig, Wishaw and part of Murdostoun and Motherwell North wards. 4.2 A draft submission reflecting the Working Group's proposals is attached as Appendix 2 of this report. 5. Recommendation 5.1 It is recommended that the Council note the initial proposals formulated by the Boundary Commission for Scotland as part of the Sixth Review of United Kingdom Parliamentary Constituencies, note the recommendations of the United Kingdom Constituencies Working Group and approve for submission the attached consultation submission. 9 FHkof *' rrfCentral services Members seeking further information on the contents of this report are asked to contact John Fleming, Head of Central Services on Extension 2228. UK Parliamentary Constituenciesdoc APPENDIX 1 NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT To: POLICY AND RESOURCES Subject: SIXTH REVIEW OF UNITED COMMITTEE KINGDOM PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES - STATUTORY CONSULTATION From: HEAD OF CENTRAL SERVICES Date: 3 November 201 I Ref: JAFllL 1. Purpose of Report 1.I The report advises of the sixth review of United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies; of the initial proposals formulated by the Boundary Commission for Scotland; and of the statutory consultation provisions and recommends procedures for consideration of those proposals and the submission of a consultation response on behalf of the Council. 2. Background 2-1 Following the amendment of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 , there requires to be a review of United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies to reduce the total number to 600, of which 52 are to be in Scotland. Of the 52 Scottish Parliamentary constituencies, one must be a constituency covering the combined extent of Orkney Islands Council area and Shetlands Council area and one must be a constituency covering Na H-Eileanan an lar (the Western Isles) Council area. 2.2 The electorate of the remaining 50 constituencies requires to be no less than 95% and no more than 105% of the United Kingdom electoral quota which is 76,641. The maximum electorate for a constituency is, accordingly, 80,473 and the minimum electorate 72,810. Subject to that requirement, the Boundary Commission may take into account, to such extent as they think fit, 0 Special geographical considerations, including, in particular, the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency; 0 Local government boundaries as they exist on the most recent ordinary Council-election day before the review date; 0 Boundaries of existing constituencies; Any local ties that would be broken by changes in constituencies; and 0 The inconveniences attendant on such changes. 2.3 The Boundary Commission for Scotland have now published their initial proposals and the statutory consultation period will close on 4 January 2012. 6th Review UK Parliamentary Constituencies.doc 2 3. Initial Proposals 3.1 The initial proposals, in so far as affecting North Lanarkshire, are as follows: 0 Airdrie and Coatbridge South County Constituency comprising electoral wards 7 (Airdrie North); 8 (Airdrie Central); 10 (Coatbridge South); 11 (Airdrie South); 12 (Fortissat); 15 (Mossend and Holytown); and part of Ward 19 (Murdostoun); Electorate - 79,827 0 Cumbernauld and Coatbridge North Burgh Constituency comprising electoral wards 2 (Cumbernauld North); 3 (Cumbernauld South); 4 (Abronhill, Kildrum and The Village); 5 (Strathkelvin); 6 (Coatbridge North and Glenboig); and 9 (Coatbridge West); Electorate - 79,687 0 East Dunbartonshire and Kilsyth County Constituency comprising electoral wards 1 (Kilsyth) and the whole area of East Dunbartonshire with the exception of electoral ward No. 2 (Bearsden); Electorate - 79,21 I- of which the electorate for Ward No. 1 (Kilsyth) is 9,293 and 0 Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill Burgh Constituency comprising electoral wards 13 (Thorniewood); 14 (Bellshill); 16 (Motherwell West); 17 (Motherwell North); 18 (Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig); 20 (Wishaw) and the remaining part of Ward No. 19 (Murdostoun) Electorate - 79,551. 4. Consultation Provisions 4. I The initial proposals are subject to a 12 week consultation which ends on 4 January 2012. At any time during that period, representations may be made either in support of or opposing the initial proposals. 4.2 During the 12 week consultation period there will be five public hearings 0 In Edinburgh on 14 November 2011 - focusing on the City of Edinburgh; East Lothian; Falkirk; Midlothian; Scottish Borders; and West Lothian; 0 In Lanark on 16 November - focusing on Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Renfrewshire; North Lanarkshire; South Ayrshire; and South Lanarkshire: 0 In Glasgow on 22 November - focusing on Argyll and Bute; Glasgow City; East Dunbartonshire; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; Renfrewshire; and West Dunbartonshire; 0 In Inverness on 24 November 2011 - focusing on Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Highland; and Moray; and In Dundee on 29 November 201 1 - focusing on Angus; Clackmannanshire; Dundee City; Fife: Perth and Kinross; and Stirling. 6th Rc\,iew UK Parliamentary Connitucncics.doc 3 The purpose of those hearings is to explain the initial proposals and to give an opportunity for parties to make representations. Each hearing will be chaired by a Sheriff Principal and will last for 1-2 days. It is, however, not a requirement that any party seeking to make representations do so at one of those hearings: it is competent for a party to make no