Conservative Group
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Kingsley, Paul From: Tristan W Robinson Sent: 05 May 2018 15:15 To: reviews Cc: Tristan Robinson; Cllr Simon Bound; Cllr Clive Sanders Subject: Basingstoke and Deane Boundary Submission - Conservative Group Attachments: Basingstoke and Deane Boundary Submission - Conservative Group.docx; Basingstoke and Deane Boundary Submission - Conservative Group.pdf FAO REVIEW OFFICER (Basingstoke and Deane) Dear Sir/ Madam, Please find attached a submission on behalf of the Conservative Group on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. I have attached the document as both a word file and pdf. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely, Tristan W Robinson Cllr Tristan W Robinson Chairman: Economic Planning and Housing Committee Representing Charter Alley, Monk Sherborne, Sherborne St John, Ramsdell and Wootton St Lawrence Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council T: 1 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Boundary Review 2017/18 – Consultation on warding arrangements Basingstoke and Deane Conservative Group Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Proposals ................................................................................................................................................. 4 The Cleres Ward .............................................................................................................................. 4 Kingsclere and Tadley North Ward ........................................................................................ 5 Tadley Ward ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Wellington Ward ............................................................................................................................. 7 Basing and Upton Grey Ward .................................................................................................... 8 Oakley and Candovers Ward ..................................................................................................... 9 Test Ward ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Vyne Ward ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Chineham Ward ............................................................................................................................ 12 Popley Ward .................................................................................................................................. 13 Norden Ward ................................................................................................................................. 14 Kempshott Ward .......................................................................................................................... 15 Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Ward ............................................................................... 16 Brighton Hill Ward ...................................................................................................................... 17 South Ham Ward .......................................................................................................................... 18 Winklebury and Manydown Ward ....................................................................................... 19 Eastrop and Grove Ward .......................................................................................................... 20 Brookvale and Kings Furlong Ward .................................................................................... 21 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix 1: Table of electoral variance ................................................................................. 23 Appendix 2: Map of proposed wards (Borough-wide) .................................................... 24 Appendix 3: Map of proposed wards (Town area) ............................................................ 25 Basingstoke and Deane Conservative Group – Cllr Tristan W Robinson Introduction The Conservative Group of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to provide initial thoughts on new warding patterns across the Borough. The Conservative group is made up of 33 councillors drawn from all walks of life, representing the diverse areas across the Borough. Following the preliminary stage, the Conservative Group fully endorses the LGBCE proposals to reduce the overall number of councillors by 10% to ensure effective and convenient local government at less cost for the taxpayer. The preference by the LGBCE for three-member wards except in exceptional circumstances is also noted. This submission therefore is predicated on a 54 member council, in line with the outcome of the preliminary stage and we propose 18 x three member wards that fully meet the LGBCE’s requirements. In this submission, we have sought to identify the best possible warding patterns based on our extensive knowledge of local communities, drawing on the LGBCE principles of electoral equality, reflecting the interests and identities of local communities and, promoting effective and convenient local government. A desire to ensure local communities are respected and effectively represented is at the heart of our submission. We have sought throughout to ensure polling districts, parishes, and identified town/ urban areas remain together wherever possible. Our warding proposals deliver electoral equality in line with the 10% variance outlined by the Boundary Commission in all cases, based on the 2023 electoral roll projected figures. There are no ‘doughnut wards’ proposed in this submission and we have taken care to devise proposals based exclusively on three-member wards so that council elections may take place in thirds, which is the declared policy position of the Borough Council. In the view of the Conservative Group, this submission represents a fair and equitable distribution of wards which keeps communities and parishes together while ensuring practical representation. Basingstoke and Deane Conservative Group – Cllr Tristan W Robinson Proposals The Cleres Ward Composition This proposed ward comprises the parishes of Ashmansworth, Burghclere, Echinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green, Highclere (including Penwood), Litchfield and Woodcott, Newtown, St Mary Bourne, East Woodhay, Woolton Hill and Hurstbourne Priors (polling districts HW, FE, EW, FC, FH, FI, FA, FB, EX, FD, EY, EZ). Electoral Equality The proposal delivers electoral equality within the bounds of 10% variance with a -7.3% variance based on the 2023 electoral roll projection. Reflecting the interests and identity of local communities This ward comprises the existing communities of interest of East Woodhay and Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne, together with other associated rural communities such as Hurstbourne Priors, which have more in common with St Mary Bourne than town areas such as Whitchurch. The A34 acts as a spine road through the proposed ward running north to south, giving good transport links throughout. This ward is essentially comprised of rural parishes in the west of the Borough that are rural by nature and look toward other population centres such as Andover or Basingstoke for key services. In terms of education, the majority of these settlements form part of the catchment for The Clere secondary school. Promoting effective and convenient local government While this is a geographically large ward, the commonality of the rural nature of the component areas mean that it will be possible to represent the needs of the proposed ward equitably. The presence of the A34 through the ward means that there are good transport links. Further, the vast majority of the geographical area shares the same county division, which benefits understanding and ease of representation over two tier government for the benefit of residents. Name It is proposed that this ward is named “The Cleres” to reflect the existing communities of interest around the historic sites of Highclere. Basingstoke and Deane Conservative Group – Cllr Tristan W Robinson Kingsclere and Tadley North Ward Composition This proposed ward comprises the parishes of Ashford Hill with Headley, Kingsclere, Wolverton, Hannington, Baughurst and Tadley (polling districts FU, FW, FT, FV, EE, EG, FX, EF, EH). Electoral Equality The proposal delivers electoral equality within the bounds of 10% variance with 7.2% variance based on the 2023 electoral roll projection. Reflecting the interests and identity of local communities This ward comprises the existing communities of interest of Kingsclere and the surrounding rural parishes for Ashford Hill, Headley, Wolverton and Hannington which look toward Kingsclere as a local centre. More broadly, all these parishes look toward Tadley as the local town offering services such as GP provision, primary and secondary education with the catchment school being The Hurst Community College. The A339 acts as a spine road through the proposed ward giving good transport links throughout. There is also a common bus service running through Tadley and Kingsclere. Promoting effective and convenient local government There are good transport links through