Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64

2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Draft Revised Proposals for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee City council areas

Action required 1. The Commission is invited to consider responses to the initial and secondary consultation on its Initial Proposals and whether it wishes to make changes to its proposals for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee City council areas.

Background 2. The Commission's Initial Proposals for this area comprise 5 constituencies which exactly cover Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee City council areas and 2 constituencies which exactly cover Aberdeen City council area. A map of the constituencies is at Appendix A.

Initial Proposals Constituency Council areas Wards (2007–2017) electorate parity Aberdeen North Aberdeen City 1-6, 7(part) 75,791 1.3% Aberdeen South Aberdeen City 7(part), 8-13 74,444 -0.4% Angus Glens and Angus (part) 1-5, 6(part) 78,156 Dundee East Dundee City (part) 6, 8 4.3% Banff and Buchan Aberdeenshire 1-7, 8(part), 9(part) 76,878 2.7% Dundee Dundee City 1-5, 7 76,317 2.0% Gordon and Deeside Aberdeenshire 8(part), 9(part), 10- 74,069 15 -0.9% Kincardine and Angus Aberdeenshire (part) 16-19 76,784 East Angus (part) 6(part), 7, 8 2.6%

3. The Commission considered revised proposals for these areas at its meeting of 13 April 2017, see Paper 2017/62. The Commission considered that Option 1 presented more of an improvement on its Initial Proposals than Option 2 and deferred consideration of Option 3. The Commission asked the Secretariat to further develop Option 1, with a view to incorporating as much of Deeside as possible within Gordon and Deeside; without causing excessive disruption to local ties at Peterculter, and without necessitating unmanageable consequent disruption to local ties in Angus.

4. Option 1 (Appendix B): aimed to place Banchory within the Dee Valley and minimise change to the Initial Proposals by retaining the proposed Banff and Buchan and Dundee constituencies. Option 1 also placed Midstocket within Aberdeen South and adopted constituency boundaries suggested by Angus Council. However Option 1 created a constituency covering 3 council areas, some areas of the Dee Valley were still out-with Gordon and Deeside and it transferred a large number of electors between Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire council areas.

Document name 1 BCS_2017_64_(Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Angus_Dundee_Revised_Proposals) Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64

Option 1 Constituency Council area Wards Electorate Parity (2007-2017) Banff and Aberdeenshire 1-7, 8(part), 76,878 2.7% Buchan 9(part) Gordon and Aberdeenshire 10-12, 14-16, Deeside 8(part),9(part), 73,753 -1.4% 13(part) Aberdeen North Aberdeen City 1-6 78,063 4.2% Aberdeenshire 13(part) Aberdeen South Aberdeen City 7, 8, 10-13, 77,326 3.3% 9(part) Kincardine and Aberdeen City 9(part) Angus North Aberdeenshire 17-19 72,309 -3.4% Angus 2, 3, 8, 6(part), 7(part) Angus South Angus 1, 4, 5, 6(part), and Dundee 7(part) 77,793 3.9% East Dundee City 6, 8 Dundee Dundee City 1-5, 7 76,317 2.0%

5. Option 3 (Appendix D) designed 2 constituencies for Aberdeen City council area and 5 constituencies for Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee City council areas. The purpose of the suggestion was to prove that it is possible to design constituencies throughout Scotland without splitting any wards but the author admits the suggestion does not consider local ties. Option 3 does not split any wards but it separates Banchory from other communities in Deeside.

Option 3 Constituency Council area Wards Electorate Parity (2007-2017) Aberdeen North Aberdeen City 1-2, 4-8 78,274 4.5% Aberdeen South Aberdeen City 3, 9-13 71,961 -3.9% Banff and Buchan Aberdeenshire 1-7, 9 77,582 3.6% Gordon and Mar Aberdeenshire 8, 10-15 73,365 -1.9% Kincardine and Aberdeenshire 16-19 76,952 2.8% Arbroath Angus 6-8 Forfar Angus 1-5 76,693 2.5% Dundee City 1, 6 Dundee Dundee City 2-8 77,612 3.7%

Representations received 6. A more detailed record of representations received for these areas was described in Paper 2017/62, but to summarise approximately 280 responses were received during the two consultation periods for these areas.

7. Approximately 240 of these responses were received from Banchory electors opposing the Commission’s proposals as they split Deeside between constituencies. However there was also some support for the Deeside boundary from the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Document name 2 BCS_2017_64_(Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Angus_Dundee_Revised_Proposals) Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64

8. Angus Council suggested an alternative boundary that they believe better reflects local ties and Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries. Aberdeenshire Council suggested creating constituencies based on using whole wards which come into effect in May 2017.

9. The Scottish Labour Party and Scottish Liberal Democrats support the Commission's Initial Proposals in this grouping. The Conservative and Unionist Party suggest that Banchory be placed in a constituency with other communities in Deeside but they did not provide any alternative constituency boundaries.

Consideration of representations 10. The majority of responses to the consultations oppose the division of Deeside between constituencies in Aberdeenshire. There were very few comments on the Initial Proposals regarding Angus, Aberdeen and Dundee.

11. The main issues raised by respondents opposing the Initial Proposals are strong links between communities within Deeside and no ties between Angus and Deeside as the Cairngorms act as a natural boundary between the areas. However the Scottish Liberal Democrats support the Initial Proposals and historically Banchory has been split between constituencies in Deeside (West Aberdeenshire and North Angus and Mearns constituencies between 1974- 1983).

12. The Commission received no alternative suggestions to improve the Initial Proposals in Deeside.

13. Banchory has an electorate of approximately 7,800 and adding these electors to the proposed Gordon and Deeside constituency (74,069 electors) would create a constituency with an electorate exceeding the quota for this review.

14. Further consideration of these areas was described in Paper 2017/62.

Options 15. Option 1 added Westhill from Aberdeenshire to an Aberdeen North constituency. As there are approximately 8,900 electors in Westhill, Peterculter from Aberdeen City with approx. 3,700 electors was included in a Kincardine and Angus North constituency. Option 1 also adopted suggested boundaries in Aberdeen and Angus.

16. Option 3 designed constituencies based on using whole wards.

17. The Commission asked the Secretariat to further develop Option 1 and deferred making a decision on Option 3.

18. Option 4 aims to improve Option 1 by also placing Banchory within a Deeside constituency but minimising changes to the Initial Proposals elsewhere.

19. Option 4 amends the boundary between the proposed Banff and Buchan and Gordon and Deeside constituencies by following a river. The boundary splits a single ward between these constituencies while the Initial Proposals split 2 wards.

Document name 3 BCS_2017_64_(Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Angus_Dundee_Revised_Proposals) Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64

20. Option 4 transfers approximately 2,000 electors by Blackburn and 980 electors by Potterton in Aberdeenshire, to an Aberdeen North constituency. The proposed boundary by Blackburn follows a railway line, historic ward and community council boundary and the A96 dual-carriageway. The boundary by Potterton follows natural features (river and hilltop). Option 4 transfers a smaller number of electors than Option 1 so does not necessitate a balance of electors elsewhere in Aberdeen.

21. Option 4 places Banchory within a Gordon and Deeside constituency but a small area of Deeside (Drumoak) is separated. This area has also been split in Option 1. There are approximately 1,300 electors by Drumoak (between Banchory and Peterculter) and adding these electors to a Gordon and Deeside constituency would exceed the electoral quota. However Drumoak could be added to an Aberdeen South constituency as the Dee flows into Aberdeen.

22. In Aberdeen City, Option 4 only makes a minor change to the boundary between the proposed Aberdeen North and South constituencies in ward 7 (Midstocket/ Rosemount). It places Midstocket within an Aberdeen South constituency. The initial proposals also split Aberdeen ward 7 but it followed a different boundary.

23. In Angus Option 4 places the Glens within a single constituency and adopts suggestions: linking Arbroath with the proposed Angus Glens and Dundee East constituency to create a constituency named Angus South and Dundee East; linking Brechin and Forfar with the proposed Kincardine and Angus East constituency; and following new ward boundaries by Friockheim.

24. Option 4 also retains the existing Dundee constituency.

Option 4 Constituency Council area Wards Electorate Parity (2007-2017) Aberdeen City 1-6, 7(part), Aberdeen North 77,351 3.3% Aberdeenshire 8(part), 12(part) Aberdeen South Aberdeen City 7(part), 8-13 75,961 1.6% Angus South and Angus 1,4,5, 6(part), 7(part) 71,402 -4.7% Dundee East Dundee City 6 and 8 Banff and Buchan Aberdeenshire 1-7, 8(part), 9 78,079 4.2% Dundee Dundee City 1-5, 7 76,317 2.0% Gordon and 8 (part), 10, 11, Aberdeenshire 78,354 4.6% Deeside 12(part), 13-16 Kincardine and Aberdeenshire 17-19 74,975 0.3% Angus North Angus 1-3, 6(part), 7(part), 8

Summary of Options 25. The advantages of the Initial Proposals are: they created 2 constituencies within Aberdeen City council area; aimed to retain a Banff and Buchan constituency; and during the consultations there was little opposition to the proposals in Aberdeen, Angus and Dundee. However there was strong opposition to the Initial Proposals in Banchory as Deeside was split between constituencies. The Initial Proposals split 4 wards.

Document name 4 BCS_2017_64_(Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Angus_Dundee_Revised_Proposals) Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64

26. The advantages of Option 1 are: they retain 2 proposed constituencies (Dundee and Banff and Buchan); place Banchory within a Gordon and Deeside constituency; incorporate suggestions from Angus Council to improve local ties in Angus; and amend the boundary in Aberdeen to place Midstocket within a single constituency. However Option 1: creates a constituency covering 3 council areas; a small area of the Dee Valley is placed within an Aberdeenshire/ Angus constituency; and it transferred a large number of electors between Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire council areas; and may break local ties with smaller communities adjacent to Westhill and Peterculter. Option 1 splits 6 wards.

27. The advantages of Option 3 are it provides a constituency design that follows ward boundaries. However the author admits the suggestion may not consider local ties as they lack local knowledge of the areas. Option 3 also splits Banchory from other communities in Deeside.

28. The advantages of Option 4 are: it retains the proposed Dundee constituency; places Banchory within a Gordon and Deeside constituency; to balance the electorate in Gordon and Deeside it minimises the number of electors being transferred to an Aberdeen North constituency; electors by Blackburn and Potterton in Aberdeenshire will have links to local amenities in Aberdeen; the proposed boundaries follow recognisable boundaries or features; it places Brechin and Forfar within a Kincardine and Angus North constituency as suggested by Angus Council. However not all of Deeside is included within a Gordon and Deeside constituency due to the electorate quota but Drumoak could be added to an Aberdeen South constituency. Option 4 splits 5 wards.

Constituency names 29. The constituency names in this paper are provisional. The Commission will have the opportunity to review all constituency names and designations prior to the publication of its Revised Proposals.

30. A number of respondents have suggested alternative names for constituencies in Angus and Aberdeenshire.

Proposed constituency name Suggested alternative constituency name Gordon and Deeside Gordon and Upper Deeside Kincardine and Angus East Kincardine and Angus North Kincardine and Deeside Angus Glens and Dundee East Angus South and Dundee East

31. Historical UK Parliament constituency names within Angus and Aberdeenshire that the Commission may also wish to consider include: Angus; Angus East; Banff; Gordon; North Angus and Mearns; South Angus; West Aberdeenshire; and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

32. The Commission set out its guidelines for selecting constituency names in its Policies and Procedures booklet for this review.

Conclusion 33. It is not possible to design constituencies coterminous with council area boundaries in this grouping.

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34. Most of the responses to the public consultation in this area relate to Banchory and the division of Deeside between constituencies. The Commission received no alternative suggestions to improve the Initial Proposals in Deeside. In Aberdeen, Angus and Dundee there have been low levels of responses to the Initial Proposals with only a few alternative boundaries and constituency names suggested.

35. The only solution to keeping Deeside within a single constituency is to design a constituency combining parts of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire council areas due to the high average electorate and geography within north-east Aberdeenshire.

36. The Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries are not coterminous with council area boundaries in this area, the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine Scottish Parliament constituency overlaps the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire council area boundary.

37. The majority of responses to the consultations oppose the Initial Proposals as they place Banchory in a different constituency to other communities in Deeside. Option 3 also follows a similar boundary by Banchory.

38. Options 1 and 4 both aim improve the Initial Proposals. They consider alternative suggestions in Aberdeen (Midstocket) and Angus as well as the constituency boundary by Deeside but design constituencies that overlap the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire council area boundaries.

Recommendations 39. Taking into account all of the evidence arising from the public consultations on the Initial Proposals, the Secretariat invites the Commission to decide whether:  to adopt without amendment the Initial Proposals for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee City council areas as the Commission’s Revised Proposals (as in Appendix A), subject to consideration of all other constituencies;  to consider the objections to the boundary at Banchory and adopt the alternative boundaries in either Option 1 or 4; and  to amend its proposals for constituency names.

Secretariat April 2017

Document name 6 BCS_2017_64_(Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Angus_Dundee_Revised_Proposals) Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix A1 Initial Proposals for Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas

Banff and Buchan

Aberdeen North Gordon and Deeside

Aberdeen South

Kincardine and Angus East

Angus Glens and Dundee East

Difference Constituency Name E le ctora te from E Q/% Banff and Buchan 7 6 ,8 7 8 2 .7 % Gordon and Deeside 7 4 ,0 6 9 -0 .9 % Dundee Kincardine and Angus East 7 6 ,7 8 4 2 .6 % Angus Glens and Dundee East 78,156 4 .3 % D und e e 7 6 ,3 1 7 2 .0 % proposed constituency Aberdeen North 7 5 ,7 9 1 1 .3 % existing constituency Aberdeen South 7 4 ,4 4 4 -0 .4 % 0 10 miles Crown Copyright and database right ± 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance 0 10 km Boundary Commission for Scotland 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Initial Proposals for Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas BCS Paper 2017/64 Appendix A2

existing Scottish existing UK Parliament Parliament constituency constituency

council area proposed constituency

existing wards wards from 2007-2017 May 2017 Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix B1 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 1 - Overview

Difference Constituency Name E le ctora te from EQ / % Banff and Buchan 7 6 ,8 7 8 2.7% Gordon and Deeside 7 3 ,7 5 3 -1.4% Aberdeen North 7 8 ,0 6 3 4.2% Aberdeen South 7 7 ,3 2 6 3.3% Kincardine and Angus North 7 2 ,3 0 9 -3.4% Angus South and Dundee East 7 7 ,7 9 3 3.9% D und e e 7 6 ,3 1 7 2.0% Banff and Buchan

Aberdeen North

Gordon and Deeside Aberdeen South

Kincardine and Angus North

Angus South and Dundee East

alternative constituency Dundee proposed constituency boundary

0 10 miles Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance ± 0 10 km Survey licence no. 100022179 Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix B2 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 1 - Split Ward Detail - Aberdeen City Aberdeen A12 North AC2

AC1

Gordon and Deeside

AC6

AC4 AC5

AC3 A13 AC7

AC8

AC10

AC12

AC11 Aberdeen South

AC9

AC13

Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey licence no. 100022179

A18 A1 existing ward number (2007-2017) A17 existing ward boundary (2007-2017)

alternative constituency proposed constituency boundary 0 1 miles Kincardine ± 0 1 km and Angus North Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 Appendix B3 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies A18 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas A16 Alternative Suggestion - OptionA15 1 - Split Ward Detail - Angus

A19

AN2

Angus South and Kincardine Dundee East and Angus North

AN1

AN8

AN3

AN7

AN6

AN4 existing ward number (2007-2017) A1 AN5 existing ward boundary (2007-2017) D1 D6 alternative constituency D8 D2 D4 D7 proposed constituency boundary D5 Dundee Crown Copyright and database right 0 6 miles D3 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey licence no. 100022179 ± 0 6 km Boundary Commission for Scotland 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 1 BCS Paper 2017/64 Appendix B4

existing Scottish existing UK Parliament Parliament constituency constituency

council area proposed constituency

existing wards wards from 2007-2017 May 2017 Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix C1 Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus and Dundee City Council Areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 3 Bryant - Overview

Difference Constituency Name E le ctora te from EQ / % Banff and Buchan 7 7 ,5 8 2 3 .6 % Gordon and Mar 7 3 ,3 6 5 -1 .9 % Kincardine and Arbroath 76,952 2 .8 % D und e e 7 7 ,6 1 2 3 .7 % Forfa r 7 6 ,6 9 3 2 .5 % Aberdeen North 7 8 ,2 7 4 4 .5 % Aberdeen South 7 1 ,9 6 1 -3 .9 %

Banff and Buchan

Gordon and Mar

Aberdeen North

Aberdeen South

Kincardine and Arbroath

Forfar

Dundee alternative constituency

proposed constituency boundary 0 9 miles Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance ± 0 9 km Survey licence no. 100022179 Boundary Commission for Scotland 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 3 BCS Paper 2017/64 Appendix C2

existing Scottish existing UK Parliament Parliament constituency constituency

council area proposed constituency

existing wards wards from 2007-2017 May 2017 Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix D1 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 4 - Overview

Difference Constituency Name E le ctora te from EQ / % Banff and Buchan 7 8 ,0 7 9 4 .2 % Gordon and Deeside 7 8 ,3 5 4 4 .6 % Aberdeen North 7 7 ,3 5 1 3 .3 % Aberdeen South 7 5 ,9 6 1 1 .6 % Kincardine and Angus North 7 4 ,9 7 5 0 .3 % Angus South and Dundee East 71,402 -4.7% D und e e 7 6 ,3 1 7 2 .0 % Banff and Buchan

Gordon and Deeside Aberdeen North

Aberdeen South

Kincardine and Angus North

Angus South and Dundee East

Dundee

alternative constituency

proposed constituency

Crown Copyright and database right 0 10 miles 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey licence no. 100022179 ± 0 10 km Boundary A2Commission for ScotlandA2 BCS Paper 2017/64 A7 2018A1 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies A5Appendix D2 A4 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 4 - Split Ward Detail A4

A7 A14 A8

A6 A9

A8

A9

A11 Gordon and Deeside A12 A10 A8

A11

A12

A14 Aberdeen North AC1 AC2

A13 A13

AC6 AC4 AC5 A15

Aberdeen South AC7

A17 AC3 AC8 A16 A1 existing ward number (2007-2017) existing ward boundary (2007-2017)A18 alternative constituency Kincardine proposed constituency boundary and Angus North 0 6.5 miles Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance AC10 0 7 km Survey licence no. 100022179 AC12 ± A19 BCS Paper 2017/64 Boundary Commission for Scotland Kincardine 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix D3 and Angus North Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 4 - Split Ward Detail AN2 AN8

AN1 AN3

AN7

AN6

Angus South and Dundee East

AN4

AN5

D1 D6

D8 D2 D4 D7 D5 Dundee D3 A1 existing ward number (2007-2017) existing ward boundary (2007-2017) alternative constituency

proposed constituency boundary Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance 0 3 miles Survey licence no. 100022179 ± 0 3 km Boundary Commission for Scotland 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 4 BCS Paper 2017/64 Appendix D4

existing Scottish existing UK Parliament Parliament constituency constituency

council area proposed constituency

existing wards wards from 2007-2017 May 2017 Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 AC1 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix D5 AC4 AC5 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Alternative Suggestion - Option 4 - Drumoak Aberdeen AC3 North AC7

Gordon and Deeside A13 AC10

Aberdeen South AC11

AC9

Drumoak Area

A16 A18 A17 Difference Constituency Name E le ctora te from EQ / % Banff and Buchan 7 8 ,0 7 9 4 .4 % Gordon and Deeside 7 8 ,3 5 4 4 .8 % Kincardine Aberdeen North 7 7 ,3 5 1 3 .5 % existing ward number (2007-2017) A1 and Angus North Aberdeen South 7 7 ,1 0 6 3 .1 % existing ward boundary (2007-2017) alternative constituency Kincardine and Angus North 73,830 -1.3% proposed constituency boundary Angus South and Dundee East 71,402 -4.5% Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance 0 1 miles Survey licence no. 100022179 D und e e 7 6 ,3 1 7 2 .1 % ± 0 1 km Boundary Commission for Scotland BCS Paper 2017/64 2018 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Appendix E1 Aberdeenshire, Angus, Aberdeen City and Dundee City council areas Aberdeen City Constituency Split - Bailey whole wards boundary

AC2 AC1

AC6 AC4 AC5

AC3 AC7 AC8

AC10 AC12

AC11

AC9

AC13

proposed constituency boundary alternative constituency boundary (Bailey) existing constituency boundary existing ward boundary 0 2 miles ± 0 2 km