July 2006

Executive summary

Final recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for South Holland in

The Boundary Committee Current electoral proposals to improve electoral for is the body arrangements equality in its Long Sutton and wards. In the rural responsible for Under the existing electoral west area, in the light of poor conducting electoral arrangements seven of the 22 levels of electoral equality and reviews of local wards have variances of more limited community identity than 10% from the district evidence, we moved away from authorities. A further average. This is expected to the Council’s proposals and electoral review of South worsen by 2009, with nine wards created three-member Holland is being having variances of more than & , 10% from the district average. undertaken to provide Donington, & , and Pinchbeck & The review has been conducted improved levels of wards. in four stages, as outlined in the electoral equality across table below. the district. It aims to Responses to ensure that the number Draft recommendations consultation of voters represented by We adopted a mixture of 18 We received eight submissions each district councillor one-, two- and three-member at Stage Three, including wards. In Spalding town we comments from the Council, five is approximately the adopted the Council’s proposals parish councils, a local same. The Electoral subject to a number of councillor and a resident. The Commission directed amendments to improve Council put forward comments electoral equality. In the east of about the west of the district, the Boundary Committee the district we proposed a minor Little Sutton parish and the to undertake this review amendment to the Council’s Spalding town area. on 2 June 2004.

Stage Stage starts Description One 17 May 2005 Submission of proposals to us

Two 9 August 2005 Our analysis and deliberation

Three 29 November 2005 Publication of draft recommendations and consultation on them

Four 7 March 2006 Analysis of submissions received and formulation of final recommendations The Boundary Committee for England: executive summary

Analysis and final that any respondents put recommendations forward sufficient evidence of community links to persuade us Electorate figures to move away from our draft The Council is predicting recommendations. electorate growth of 5% over the next five years. This will be spread We received no comments across the district, but with about our Fleet, Gedney, significant developments in Hurn, Holbeach Town Spalding and Holbeach towns. and Moulton, Weston & The Committee consider these wards, and & the best estimates available. Holbeach St Johns. In light of this and the good levels of Council size electoral equality that they secure, we propose confirming We received no further comments them as final. on council size and are therefore confirming our draft recommendations for a council What happens next? size of 37 members as final. All further correspondence on these final recommendations General analysis and the matters discussed in We propose broadly confirming this report should be addressed our draft recommendations as to the Electoral Commission, final, subject to two amendments. which will not make an Order In the east of the district, in light implementing them before 22 of the community identity August 2006. The information in evidence received, we propose the representations will be transferring Little Sutton parish available for public access once back to Long Sutton ward. In the Order has been made. the Spalding town area, we The Secretary propose a very minor amendment The Electoral Commission to transfer two properties to Trevelyan House Spalding St John’s ward to Great Peter Street address issues of access. SW1P 2HW We propose no change in the remainder of the district. In the Fax: 020 7271 0667 west of the district, we note the Email: implementation@ objections to our proposals for electoralcommission.org.uk Crowland & Deeping St The contact details above Nicholas, Pinchbeck & Surfleet should only be used for and Donington, Quadring & implementation purposes. Gosberton wards. However, the Further information alternative proposal would The full report is available to significantly worsen electoral download at www.boundary equality and we do not consider committee.org.uk

The Boundary Committee for England is a committee of the Electoral Commission, an independent body set up by Parliament under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. It is responsible for conducting reviews as directed by the Electoral Commission or the Secretary of State.