10 April 2014 Item 2 Appendix Warwickshire County Council's Draft Proposals for a New Patt

Warwickshire County Council – 10 April 2014 Item 2 Appendix

Warwickshire County Council’s

Draft Proposals for a new pattern of Divisions

2014

Warwickshire County Council Proposed Arrangements for Divisions

Background

The Council made a submission to the Boundary Commission for a Council size of [57] Members. The Commission accepted the submission on [ ].

This report contains Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) proposals for division arrangements, including [the number of and proposed names for the divisions and the number of Councillors per division].

Division Arrangements and Community Identities

Warwickshire County Council has taken into account the Boundary Commission’s technical guidance when reviewing the division arrangements and making these submissions.

The Council is mindful of the three statutory criteria of Electoral Equality, Community Identity and Effective and Convenient Local Government when putting forward its proposals.

The County Council has a general preference for single member divisions, as the potential sheer scale of dual member divisions both in terms of the numbers of the electorate affected and the geographical areas call for caution. The perception might be that each councillor represents half the electorate but in practice both councillors are elected for the whole division.

This potentially represents a substantial increase in the workload and all the tasks normally associated with their representative role e.g. canvassing, constituent queries, correspondence and telephone calls etc. The office of councillor is a voluntary one and the potential scale of the workload presented by a two-member division at county council level may adversely affect the equality of opportunity to those seeking public office and the objective of improving diversity of representation.

Where very diverse communities are bounded together into one division there is an increased likelihood that the councillors will not be from the same political parties. The difficulties that this can create for clarity, accountability and community leadership on any given issue for the electorate should not be under estimated. This may well cause alienation of the electorate, disengagement with democracy and local government in general, resulting in a decrease in the turnout at elections and disenfranchisement.

However the Council does accept that in certain circumstances a dual member division may be the preferred choice in meeting the three statutory criteria. Realistically they are only an option in relatively heavily populated urban areas where the geographical size of the area is comparatively small.

It is with these considerations in mind that WCC recommends [57] divisions, comprising of [ ] single member divisions and [ ] dual member divisions. The geographical and demographic layout of Warwickshire lends itself to this proposal due to the combination of rural, less densely populated areas and urban and more highly populated areas. The dual member divisions proposed are [ ].

1. North Warwickshire

North Warwickshire Borough is the smallest District/Borough in Warwickshire in terms of population, around 62,000 at the time of the 2011 Census, and lies between Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Nuneaton and Tamworth.

The area is characterised by attractive open countryside, served by the market towns of Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth. There are a number of small villages together with hamlets of only a few houses. Communities vary from former mining settlements, where incomes remain generally low and deprivation is experienced, to more affluent settlements where many residents commute to work in towns outside the Borough. In recent years there has been a rapid expansion in the number of jobs in the Borough, on employment sites such as Hams Hall and Birch Coppice, with these being home to a wide range of employers such as BMW and Ocado.

The Borough has excellent transport links by both road and rail, and a new Coleshill Parkway Station has opened in recent years. The proposed HS2 route is currently planned to run through North Warwickshire.

The overwhelming land use throughout the area is agriculture, largely in extensive estates and accompanied by countryside recreation. Nationally, farming has declined as an employer, but is still of major importance in the local economy and underpins the rural scene.

There is no main urban centre as the area is served by small market towns and villages. There is competition from the surrounding conurbations for the growing number of new jobs in the Borough, shopping and other services. Due to the dispersed rural nature of the area, people can have to travel considerable distances to access jobs, services and facilities causing problems for those with mobility problems and lack of transport. Transport is a major barrier to accessing employment and services in the area, and many of the new jobs are taken by in-commuters who can often access the employment sites more easily..

There is a varied supply of housing, often in pleasant rural surroundings, and house prices appear to be more affordable than elsewhere in Warwickshire.

The proposal for the electoral division of North Warwickshire has been drawn up around the major communities in the area and where possible the areas which they serve in terms of facilities. This is a predominantly rural area and inevitably some anomalies arise as a result of this. The communities of Polesworth, Water Orton, Dordon / Baddesley, Kingsbury, Atherstone, Hartshill / Mancetter and Coleshill each form the nucleus of their districts:

The proposed pattern of divisions for North Warwickshire is for single member divisions. There is one division which falls outside of the permitted electoral variance from the county average [Kingsbury -13.06%]. This is however a relatively small deviation and more than compensated for by its contribution to enabling a sensible pattern of divisions across the district. Despite trying a number of variants and having regard to the three statutory criteria one division always seem to come out with less than the required number of electors. No parishes require warding under these proposals and we have achieved 58.8% in terms of

coterminosity with district wards. The standard deviation from the average number of electors for this district is 262 and therefore we have achieved a good level of electoral equality across North Warwickshire. The proposed pattern of divisions is what we consider the best fit having regard to the statutory criteria.

See the attached Map 1

NW1 Polesworth

Polesworth, Shuttington, Newton Regis, Seckington, No Mans Heath, Austrey

Electorate: 7162

Our proposal keeps the town of Polesworth together within a single division. This will satisfy the community in that area, who identify as residents of the town, are keen for it not to be split, and will avoid confusion among the electorate. The villages of Shuttington, Seckington, Newton Regis and Austrey are all linked to Polesworth by roads and the town forms the community centre for this rural area on the edge of Tamworth (in neighbouring Staffordshire).

Polesworth is the largest community in the North of the Borough and serves the villages to the north in terms of the High school, Library, childrens’ centre and some shopping facilities.

NW2 Baddersley and Dordon

Warton, Grendon, Baddesley Ensor, Dordon, Wood End

Electorate: 7578

This division includes the former mining communities of Baddesley, Grendon, Dordon, and Warton. This fairly reflects community identities as the mining villages have similar interests and share local community history. Warton is a rural village, which has more in common with the other villages in Baddesley and Grendon than the town of Polesworth. Baddesley and Grendon have always been in an electoral division with Dordon and there are many links between these communities, not least the A5 road that joins them. The larger villages of Dordon, Baddesley and Grendon are a focus for the other smaller villages in the division.

Dordon and Baddesley are again two significant communities in close proximity who are served by Polesworth High School. The anomaly here is the community of Warton which shares a Parish council with Polesworth but if added to Polesworth would put that division way outside the upper 10% electoral variance. A unifying factor is the local GP Practice which serves all of the surrounding villages and is based in Dordon. The Division is also home to the Birch Coppice Business Park, where there have been an increasing number of job opportunities over recent years as the employment site has been redeveloped.

NW3 Atherstone

Atherstone

Electorate: 7519

Our proposal keeps the town of Atherstone as a single electoral division by combining the district wards of Atherstone North with most of the Atherstone South and Mancetter ward.

Atherstone is a thriving market town and community in its own right and is essentially provided with its own discrete facilities.

Atherstone has its own railway station. The community also holds the annual Atherstone Ball Game, which been played through the streets of Atherstone every Shrove Tuesday since the Middle Ages. It also holds the ‘Dickens Night’ every year, which is held in November and recreates the town's Victorian era.

NW4 Hartshill and Mancetter

Caldecott, Mancetter, Harts Hill, Ansley Common, Church End, Old Arley, England

Electorate: 7047

Ansley village is a former mining community and many of its residents worked in the mines in the locality when they were operational: Both Ansley Common and Ansley village have substantial numbers of social housing estates, most of them former Coal Board housing. People in Ansley Common and Ansley village both shop in Nuneaton and share the same church of St Lawrence at Church End where the roads through the two communities merge.

Ansley Common and Ansley village are naturally aligned to the Parishes of Astley and Corley. They are similar rural communities and are well-linked by road. This proposal preserves the ward of Arley and Whitacre and adds to it the rest of the Old Arley village thus creating a more harmonious arrangement.

Both Mancetter and Hartshill are close to Atherstone but are communities in their own right with The High School at Hartshill serving both the communities and also the surrounding villages.

NW5 Kingsbury

Kingsbury, Hurley, Baxterley, Marston, Lea Marston, White Acre Heath, Hams Hall, Nether Whitacre, Furnace End

Electorate: 6764

The proposed Division is home to the Kingsbury Water Park, a major leisure and recreation attraction in the Borough, and ,also the Kingsbury Oil Terminal. The village of Hurley is a natural pairing with Kingsbury, being part of the same parish and with its primary school feeding naturally into Kingsbury Comprehensive School, serving to

unite the communities. There are also two doctors’ surgeries within the Parish of Kingsbury, with the same GP's. These health arrangements are well established and serve all the residents of Kingsbury and Hurley. There is a rural bus service between them which further helps to connect the two communities.

Kingsbury is the largest community in its division and serves the surrounding villages with its facilities including the High School and GP Practice. This is the one division in the proposed pattern of divisions for North Warwickshire which falls outside of the 10% electoral variance, falling just below the lower limit. Due to the rural nature of the borough it is inevitable that some divergence does occur if community identity is to be reflected in the pattern of divisions. Our suggested pattern of divisions in North Warwickshire brings that divergence to an absolute minimum.

NW6 Coleshill North and Water Orton

Bodymoor Heath, Hunts Green, Middleton, Allen End, Wishaw, Water Orton and Coleshill (North)

Electorate: 7349

This division includes the North of Coleshill, Water Orton and a number of villages to the north towards Middleton, close to the border with Staffordshire. The area has numerous major transport links running through it, including the M42 and M6 Toll and an existing railway line. It could also be considerably affected by HS2 as the area figures in both the Phase 1 and 2 proposed routes. In general the area is served by the facilities in Coleshill and Water Orton. The proposed Division is also home to The Belfry, home to international golf tournaments, and a major tourist attraction in the Borough.

Curdworth and Water Orton are two closely related communities, which share the same outlook as villages on the edge of Sutton Coldfield. Their linkage is recognised by the current divisional boundaries. This arrangement also preserves and facilitates co- terminosity. In the opposite direction there is a substantial physical barrier eleven miles of empty countryside- between Ansley village and the residents of Coleshill and Water Orton. There is no common identity or community of interest between these areas. The common interests of Water Orton and Coleshill, situated on the edge of the Birmingham conurbation, links them both economically and culturally.

NW7 Coleshill South and Arley

Fillongley, Maxstoke, Coleshill (South), The Bogs, SITA Packington, Shawbury Wood, Newhall Green, Green End, Corley Moor, New Arley

Electorate: 7141

Our proposal for the Coleshill division joins the town ward of Coleshill South with the parishes of Fillongley, Shustoke, Maxstoke, Little Packington and Greater Packington, to which the town is most closely linked. The smaller rural communities are well-linked by road and see the town as the natural centre for shops, amenities and schools. The proposed electoral division would divide the town along the same boundary as the 6

district wards. The two district wards of Coleshill South would then be combined with Fillongley. The electoral division is largely co-terminous with the district wards save for a small area of Arley. Under our proposed pattern of divisions for North Warwickshire New Arley village [NW4] is kept whole to create a more harmonious arrangement by bringing together the whole of that community.

Coleshill being the largest community in the division is too large in electoral terms to be a single Division. The South is therefore linked to quite a large rural area but the communities in the area would normally be served by the facilities of the larger community of Coleshill.

2. Nuneaton and Bedworth

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough is Warwickshire’s smallest Borough in terms of geography, but has the highest population density in the County. In 2011 the Borough was home to 126,000 residents. It is also the most deprived Borough in the County, although that overview masks the great diversity that exists even within Nuneaton itself, where there are areas of affluence. The Borough is on the main West Coast Main Line and also has excellent road, connections, with easy access to both Birmingham International Airport and East Midlands Airport.

The Borough comprises two main urban centres, Nuneaton and Bedworth, and the smaller settlement of Bulkington. There are some small rural areas between these towns. Within Nuneaton (Warwickshire’s largest town) all the socio-economic indicators illustrate a fairly clear distinction between the east and west of the town, separated by the West Coast railway line, with west Nuneaton featuring highly in deprivation indices and the focus of attention for much of Warwickshire’s regeneration activity over recent years.

Bedworth is a distinct Town separated from Nuneaton and Bulkington by areas of Green belt. It sits on the border with Coventry, and just north of the M6 motorway. It's residents clearly see the Town as a standalone community and any attempt to disturb this is likely to create enormous concern amongst local people.

There are currently two options for Nuneaton and Bedworth. One put forward by the Conservative Group and one by the Labour Group. In terms of the two proposals there is a significant level of agreement between the groups in relation to the arrangements for Bedworth.

Bedworth West and Bedworth East[Poplar] cover the same geographic area in both sets of proposals. In relation to Bedworth North and Bedworth Central [Bede] the areas are largely the same with some small variations.

In relation to the Nuneaton part of the Borough there are more substantial variations. However Camp Hall and Galley Common together cover exactly the same area in both proposals except for a difference of view on whether polling district GCB fits best with the Galley Common or Camp Hill proposed division. Elsewhere the differences are more substantial. The commentary below each proposed division sets out the rationale for the various choices which have been made.

Neither of the models have any proposed divisions outside of the permitted electoral variance, the levels of coterminosity with district wards varies between 23.5 to 29.4% with the standard deviation from the borough average number of electors being between 345 to 351. As there are no parishes in this area there are no warding requirements associated with either of the proposals.

Conservative proposal

See Map 2

NB1 Weddington

Weddington, Horeston Grange and a small portion of St Nicolas Park

Electorate 7474

This proposed division covers an area from the eastern fringes of Nuneaton Town Centre to the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border near to the town of Hinckley. The boundary of the A5 forms part of the natural boundaries for this division. It encompasses the residential suburbs of Horeston Grange, Weddington and St. Nicolas Park which are surrounded by countryside.

Boon’s Wharf provides a natural boundary between our proposed NB1 and NB5.

The locality of Weddington and St. Nicolas comprise the borough wards of Weddington, St. Nicolas and the northern part of Whitestone. It also reflects the current boundaries of the County Council Electoral Divisions of Nuneaton Weddington and Nuneaton St. Nicolas. The St Nicolas ward is linked to Weddington by the main town bridge on Leicester Road so there are good road links between the two areas. Children will normally attend the local schools in these two areas.

Weddington and St Nicolas have interests in common and have a joint community forum

There is substantial proposed development within the local plan for over 3000 houses over the Local Plan period to 2026. This impacts on both NB1 and NB2. Our electorate forecast for this division indicates the division could accommodate the increase without moving above the 10% electoral variance.

NB2 St Nicolas

St Nicolas Park, Horeston Grange, Attleborough Fields (WHA)

Electorate 7195

This proposed division includes south section of St Nicolas Park and Attleborough Fields to the B4134.

Traditionally the two areas of St Nicolas & Attleborough have been combined – now as a combined division would be over the permitted electoral variance a part of St Nicolas has been combined with the proposed division for Weddington [see above].

NB3 Bulkington & Whitestone

Whitestone is mainly semi-rural area consisting of residential detached and semi-detached housing. It includes parts of Attleborough and Bulkington wards. The boundary runs along Bulkington Lane and Nuneaton Road and the areas are well connected by this. It also includes the former area of Ryton which has over the years slowly been absorbed as part of Bulkington. This division includes Sinney Fields. Its western boundary runs along the railway line until Whitestone boundary meets the Lutterworth Road.

Whitestone and Bulkington have interests in common and have a joint community forum

Electorate 7445

NB4 Nuneaton East

Marston Jabbett, Bulkington, Ryton, Boundary Paddock, Hollyhurst, Western In Arden, Hill Top, Coalpit Field

Electorate 7655

This area has a significant amount of traditional terraced housing. There is substantial social housing development in these parts of the Attleborough and Bulkington district wards. Both have an urban feel to them. The area covers both the east and west of the West Coast mainline and there are bridges connecting both parts in the north and south of the proposed division.

Attleborough and Bulkington form the village centres for the area. Whitestone and Bulkington have a joint community forum which includes the adjoining areas of Wembrook which are incorporated as part of this division. The proposed division follows largely parts included in the current electoral division i.e. polling districts ATD ATA added to ATC and AG

It is suggested that this proposed division is named Nuneaton East as it better reflects the arrangements

NB5 Camp Hill

Electorate 8554

Camp Hill, Chapel End, Whittleford

This proposed division follows the natural boundary with North Warwickshire and the Weddington ward boundary. It includes those parts of the Galley Common which have no physical connection other than a foopath to Weddington. These parts of Galley Common border Whittleford Road and Bucks Hill which is the main road to the Camp Hill estate. The estate has insufficient numbers of electors to form a division by itself. It would fall below the 10% tolerance therefore it has been necessary to add adjoining areas. The most logical arrangement is to join those with the parts of Galley Common suggested. There is a joint local area forum between Camp Hill and Galley Common as they share many common interests. This is an area of significant housing development over recent years, has been the focus of regeneration schemes which have radically changed the housing stock in the area.

NB6 Galley Common

Electorate 7734

Galley Common, Stockingford, Robinson’s End, Plough Hill

Traditionally these two areas of Galley Common and Stockingford have been shared as district wards. The Whittleford Road which adjoins Church Road (as does Park Lane) provides sufficient road connections between the areas. There are also footbridges under/over the railways to provide additional connectivity.

Galley Common and Kingswood both have strong links as they are both former mining communities. They have strong residents fora that liaise closely with each other over issues of common interest. There is a joint local area forum for Camp Hill and Galley Common.

NB7 Abbey

Electorate 8204

In this proposed division the most common form of housing is social housing and housing for first time buyers. The housing stock is mainly composed of terraced and semi-detached accommodation. Abbey also contains a large proportion of the town centre. Included in the town centre are the Rope Walk shopping centre, shopping precinct and market area, main bus station and the Borough Council offices. Those parts of Barpool and Kingswood which have been incorporated within the division were the first areas developed from the town centre. Barpool was the very first development from the town centre and therefore has a longer association with the town centre than any other area.

NB8 Wembrook

Electorate 7769

This proposed division covers the Hilltop, Bull Ring and the Wembrook areas of Nuneaton with the addition of a small part of the Arbury ward, a relatively new housing development to the west of the A444, which can only be accessed via Wembrook.

This is an area composed overall of significant social housing. There are road links at either end of Greenmore Road which together with Coton Arches form the main arterial links between the areas. It covers both the east and west side of the West Coast Main Line.

NB9 Arbury

Electorate 7943

Heath End, Coton Lawn, Bryans Rough, Arbury Park. This division combines the remaining parts of Arbury Ward with Bar Pool and Kingswood. It follows the administrative border with North Warwickshire and the boundary of Bedworth and the district ward boundary of Arbury Road. It uses Tomkinson Road as the other main boundary. The areas are all semi-rural on the outskirts of Nuneaton comprised of mainly socially aspirational housing, semi- detached with some bungalows and flats popular with local older people.

NB10 Bedworth North

Electorate 7347

Griff, Collycroft, Bedworth Woodlands, Gorsty Piece (up to junction Astley Lane and B4112)

This division incorporates most of Slough and parts of Heath wards. These are both urban areas bordering Bedworth. Collycroft was a community in its own right historically based around the old local clay pits industry. By incorporating polling districts SLE and SLD into this division it ensures Collycroft is united.

NB11 Bede

Electorate 7487

Bede is comprised of a high proportion of social housing some bungalows and flats popular with older people. It is an urban area. Bede ward is combined together with those elements of Slough and Exhall wards which have their origins as former mining communities with their strong sense of community and family links

NB12 Bedworth West

Electorate 7400

Keresley Newlands, Goodyers End, Ash Green, Neal’s Green (small portion of Bedworth Heath).

The district wards of Exhall and Heath represent the newer areas of Bedworth with more recent housing developments. It includes Keresley village on the borders of Coventry which is now part of the urban extension of Coventry. Keresley is a former mining community. The proposed division includes a part of the old Coventry Colliery site now redeveloped as Prologis Park. The areas are more urban than rural.

NB13 Poplar

Coalpit Field, Exhall, Woodshires Green (West), Neal’s Green (East)

Electorate 7465

This division follows the natural boundary of A444 and Coventry City administrative boundary and a large part of the eastern boundary follows the Coventry Canal. Poplar has historically been its own division, just over the border with Coventry. The M6 cuts through the southern end of the proposed division, which mainly comprises employment rather than residential land. The whole of Poplar is coterminous to a large extent with ward boundaries but with addition of a small part of Exhall to help with electoral equality.

Labour proposal

See Map 3

In relation to Bedworth the four divisions we have suggested would see the sense of community retained. These divisions better reflect school priority areas and take account of major roads. The one issue we cannot overcome is a railway line as Hawkesbury Village would otherwise have to form a division on its own and the numbers clearly are way outside of any logical solution.

We would suggest that the NB13 division be renamed Bedworth East which it clearly is. This will ensure minimal confusion with the borough wards. Accordingly NB 12 division should be called Bedworth West, NB10 division should be called Bedworth North and NB11 division should be called Bedworth Central as this is predominantly the Town Centre.

NB1 Weddington.

Electorate 7620

This division includes all of the Weddington ward plus parts of the St Nicolas ward [polling districts SNC and SND]. All of the area within the division is to the east of the West Coast Main railway line which forms a significant boundary. The area consists of similar housing stock being residential suburbs surrounded by countryside.

Around 75% of the proposed division is coterminous with the existing Borough ward. There are several road links between the two areas with good links to local shops. A road link across the railway line leads to Nuneaton town centre.

NB2 Nuneaton East

Electorate 7571

This proposed division incorporates parts of St Nicolas and Whitestone wards [SNA, B, E, F, G, WHA, B + ATF] All of the proposed division is to the east of the West Coast main line railway. The three main roads crossing to the west from this area across the railway line are Lutterworth Road, Eastboro Way and Leicester Road.

There are several road links within the areas. This area of Nuneaton has its own local shops and there is also a small retail park in easy reach. There is a known sense of community in this area especially relating to schools attended largely by local children. The whole area is mainly private housing and it is seen as a mainly affluent area of the Borough.

NB3 Bulkington & Whitestone

Electorate 7964

This proposed division comprises all of Bulkington ward and parts of the Whitestone ward i.e. polling districts WHC, D, E. It recognises Bulkington as a community in its own right, although there is housing along the Nuneaton Road link to Whitestone. The whole area falls on the eastern side of the railway line.

Bulkington is a large established village with its own identity with a clear main road link to the Whitestone area. Both areas have access to local shopping centres, and there are also community centres in both areas. Both areas share a joint community forum.

NB4 Attleborough

Electorate 7422

The division of Attleborough was removed from the electoral map the last time the Boundaries were determined and was split between two other County Divisions (Wembrook and Whitestone) which meant it was on both sides of the railway line with no road access. The loss of Attleborough as a County Division is one that local residents have been most unhappy about.

There is a definite sense of community in the area. This Division would be almost coterminous with the Attleborough Borough ward (around 98%) with the inclusion of a small part of Abbey ward (ABC) which is a continuation of the main Attleborough Road. All of which are on the western side of the West Coast Main railway line. There is a road link over the railway bridge linking polling district ATF to polling districts WBE, F and G (Wembrook ward), all three of which were in the former Attleborough County Division before the changes were made in 2004.

There is a large well used shopping centre on Attleborough Green which is in the middle of most of the Attleborough area. There is a Community Centre close to Attleborough Green, several churches of different nominations and two local schools as well as an Academy all of which enhance the sense of a united community.

NB5 Camp Hill

Electorate 8099

This proposed division comprises all of Camp Hill ward and those parts of Galley Common ward which border the Whittleford Road and Bucks Hill, the main access to the Camp Hill estate [polling districts GCE, F]. Camp Hill has close road links with these parts of Galley Common. It would be inappropriate to link Camp Hill with Weddington as there is no physical road connection to Weddington.

Camp Hill is a close knit, ex-mining community currently part of a long term regeneration programme which has significantly changed the housing stock in the area in recent years. Galley Common and Camp Hill have close links and currently have a joint community forum which reflects their common interests. Youngsters attend local schools and older students largely attend Alderman Smith Academy. There are local shopping facilities nearby and a community health centre.

NB6 Galley Common

Electorate 8189

This proposed division is composed of approximately 75% of the Galley Common ward and parts of Kingswood ward polling districts [KIB, C, A].

It has very close links in several directions, including with neighbouring Camp Hill. Shops and the community centre in Kingswood road are accessible to residents in both areas. There is a diverse mix of private and social housing in both areas.

Galley Common and Kingswood both have strong links as they are both former mining communities. They have strong residents forum which liaise closely with each other over issues of common interest. There is a joint local area forum for Camp Hill and Galley Common.

NB7 Nuneaton Central

Electorate 8041

This division comprises the parts of Abbey and Barpool wards which form the centre of Nuneaton. It is comprised of polling districts ABA, B, E, F, BAA, B, C, F, G. As this forms the centre of Nuneaton it is suggested the Division is called Nuneaton Central. Included in the town centre is the shopping precinct, the market area and main bus station.

This division has good road links to most of Nuneaton. There are several links between Abbey and Bar Pool. Both Abbey and Bar Pool areas have similar communities and the community links between BAA, B, C, F, G are clearly defined. Bar Pool was the first area outside the town centre to be developed and there is a long association between the two areas. They are both former mining communities and the two communities are very close knit. The residents would not welcome any separation of the two areas. The proposed division has clear access to both town centre and local shopping facilities, access also to community centres and local schools.

NB8 Wembrook

Electorate 7723

This division is composed of approximately 75% of Wembrook Borough Ward together polling districts ABD, BAH, and ARH. The only road links for the relatively recently built isolated estate in ARH are off the A444 travelling south and accessed through an industrial estate making its access closer to the Wembrook ward than to Arbury ward. Polling districts (Arbury) ABD and (Wembrook) WBB -C, represent one whole community, most of which is largely Asian, both Muslims and Sikhs. There is a Mosque and a Sikh Temple on the periphery of both wards and a community centre that is well used by all residents. The district wards currently have a strange boundary configuration, which cuts across the middle of streets divided between both wards.

The Bar Pool part of the division [BAH] is linked by the main Greenmoor Road to other parts and there is road access to WBB over the canal bridge and also by road at Bridge Street and College Street. There are several local schools in the area which form focal points for the community.

NB9 Arbury

Electorate 7050

This division covers the whole of Arbury ward except for the isolated estate in polling district ARH [See NB8 above]. That estate has no road access with the Arbury ward despite its proximity to it. The parts of the Barpool and Kingswood wards which have been included within the proposed division have long associations i.e. polling districts BAD, E KID, E, F

Arbury stretches across country as far as Slough ward in Bedworth. A lot of the land included is part of the Arbury Estate. All of the three areas have close main road links and easy access.

There is a diverse mix of private and social housing with a Community Centre on the edge of Bermuda Village which accessible to all areas. Also polling district BAI is linked to Arbury ward with its junction to Heath End Road and Greenmoor Road. Children generally attend the local schools and also Alderman Smith Academy, where most older students attend which form focal points for the communities. There is a faith (Catholic) school in the polling district BAI, that serves the wider area of Nuneaton and Bedworth.

NB10 Bedworth North

Electorate 7529

This division incorporates most of Slough ward and parts of Heath ward which have good road links between them. These are both urban areas of a similar character bordering Bedworth.

NB11 Bedworth Central

Electorate 7305

This division is comprised of the whole of Bede ward with those elements of Slough and Exhall wards which share a similar identity having their origins as former mining communities with a strong sense of community and family links. The area is composed of mostly social housing some bungalows and flats popular with older people. The area is urban in nature.

NB12 Bedworth West

Keresley Newlands, Goodyers End, Ash Green, Neal’s Green (small portion of Bedworth Heath).

Electorate 7400

The parts of the district wards of Exhall and Heath that represent the newer areas of Bedworth with more recent housing developments are combined together in this division. The division also includes Keresley village on the borders of Coventry and which is now part of the urban extension of Coventry. All the areas are more urban than rural.

NB13 Bedworth East

Electorate 7465

We suggest that this division takes the name Bedworth East to avoid confusion with the Borough Poplar Ward as they do not quite cover the same area.

3. Rugby

Rugby Borough reflects the diversity of Warwickshire particularly well, with a blend of urban and rural, affluence and relative deprivation. The Borough covers the town of Rugby together with 39 parishes. The population in 2011 was just in excess of 100,000 people.

Rugby Borough is in central Warwickshire, on the borders of the East and West Midlands. The Borough covers 35,558 hectares (around 88,000 acres) and incorporates many strategic road links. It also has excellent rail links, being on the West Coast Main Line.

Of the people in Rugby who are economically active, the majority are employed in the Borough. Rugby is also a net importer of employment. Manufacturing continues to remain important within the Borough, while the distribution and transport sectors account for one quarter of all employment. With a rural hinterland farming is important – this being one of the most important farming areas in Warwickshire, having approximately 500 farms and smallholdings.

The Borough-wide features of Rugby conceal a wide diversity of communities and community needs. Three of Rugby’s wards (Benn, Newbold and Brownsover) are identified as facing significant deprivation issues. Within the Borough there are other smaller pockets of deprivation.

In terms of the ethnic make-up of the local population these comprise a significant Indian population, but there are sizeable populations of Pakistani, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and Portuguese families living locally.

There are two proposals for Rugby one put forward as a joint Labour/Liberal Democrat/Independent Groups proposal and one put forward by the Conservative Group. All the divisions in both proposals fall with the permitted electoral variance. Coterminosity with district wards varies between 37.5 and 43.8%. Given the building blocks in this area related to the county average the County Council considers it has achieved a good level of coterminosity for the borough. The standard deviation from the average number of electors for this Borough falls between 250 and 338 per division.

In relation to both proposals there would be a need for the parish of Cawston to be warded (a review is already underway by the Rugby Borough Council) and under the Conservative Group proposal Churchover parish would also need to be warded.

The two sets of proposals have a different pattern of proposed divisions with the Conservative proposal recommending single member divisions only and the Labour/Liberal Democrat proposal recommending Brownsover and Eastlands & Hillmorton should be dual member divisions.

Labour/Liberal Democrat/Independents groups proposal

See map 4

R1 Fosse

Electorate 8200

The proposal for Fosse Ward is the most northern ward in the Borough. Its northern boundary is the A5 south of Hinckley and runs from just north of Stretton Baskerville to High Cross on the A5. Its western boundary runs from Stretton Baskerville, at its most northern point, along the boundary of Rugby and Nuneaton and Bedworth until it meets the Oxford Canal and the M6. From this point it runs around the Barnacle and runs parallel with Mile Tree Lane until it reaches the Rugby Road and then the Fosse Way. The boundary continues around Harborough Magna, parallel to Montilo Road through to Church Road until it reaches Churchover and the A5 again. The boundary continues on towards Clifton upon Dunsmore. The eastern boundary is the administrative boundary of the Borough with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

The villages of Barnacle, Wolvey and Shilton have a large geographical area with a low population The villages of Shilton and Wolvey have a direct connection via the B4065.

Shilton, Barnacle and Wolvey share a natural grouping through their Schools, Churches and social activities.

This proposal adjusts the current Fosse Division (all north of the natural boundary of the main West Coast railway line to allow for housing expansion at its eastern end at the BT “wireless mast site”, an area of future expansion in Rugby. It comprises the whole of the north-western rural area sandwiched between the Borough boundary of the main A5 trunk road and the railway line, including the most northerly part of the Coton and Boughton Borough ward. This proposal seeks to reduce the number of existing urban polling districts previously in the division by moving polling district DA from this principally rural division into the Brownsover division, and the furthest easterly parishes of Ansty, Easenhall, Shilton and Stretton-under-Fosse into the new proposed Earl Craven division.

R2 Earl Craven

Barnacle, Shilton, Ansty, Stretton-under-Fosse, Brinklow, Easenhall, Binley Woods, Bretford, Kings Newnham, Little Lawford, Brandon, Wolston

Electorate 7531

This area shares the characteristic of being largely greenbelt.

There are shared activities between King’s Newnham and Church Lawford through the long standing Church Fete at Church Lawford. There is a bi-annual raft race that runs on the River Avon between Church Lawford and Wolston.

Church Lawford and King’s Newnham are historically linked and although they form two parishes the day to day running of King’s Newnham falls to the Church Lawford Parish Council. It is also worthy of note that Church Lawford shares a vicar with Wolston and the children of these areas share the same schools.

Brandon and Wolston share a village hall. The skateboard park at the Community centre in Wolston is jointly funded by Brandon and Bretford, Wolston and Binley Woods Parish Councils. There are two youth clubs held on different nights in Wolston and Binley Woods within walking distance between the villages.

The Church Lawford parish councillors believe it is in the best interests of the local community if they are grouped with Wolston. The rationale are the strong connections with children sharing the same schools and the alignment of church congregations, strengthened by the fact that 2 churches share the same vicar.

Whilst Long Lawford and Church Lawford share the Lawford name they have little connection to each other were only included in the same ward as a result of the previous Rugby Borough Boundary Review.

This proposal seeks to link the existing parishes in Rugby Borough which are placed universally in the rural geographical wedge separating the urban areas of Rugby and Coventry. It combines the large village parishes of Wolston and Binley Woods with the medium-sized parishes surrounding them. There are good and established community links and this new division corrects the electoral numbers reasonably well without changing the existing Earl Craven division too dramatically.

R3 Dunsmore & Leam Valley

Electorate 8139

This proposed division is co-terminous with the ward of Dunsmore & Leam Valley. To avoid confusion amongst the electorate it is suggested the county division has the same name. [Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Princethorpe, Frankton, Bourton-on- Dunsmore, Draycote, Marton, Birdlingbury, Leamington Hastings, Thurlaston, Cawston, Dunchurch, Kites Harwick, Broadwell, Woolscott, Grandborough, Sawbridge, Willoughby]

Our proposals for the Division would comprise the parishes of Dunchurch, Thurlaston, Bourton & Draycote, Frankton, Princethorpe, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Wolfhampcote, Willoughby, Grandborough, Leamington Hastings, Birdingbury and Marton.

This proposal takes the existing rural division of Dunchurch and adjusts the boundaries to coincide with the area of Rugby Borough which is covered by the Kenilworth and Southam Westminster Parliamentary Constituency, with the exception of 44 Rugby electors south of Ashlawn Road abutting the constituency boundary. The boundary also encompasses almost exactly the whole of the Borough wards of Dunsmore and Leam Valley. These changes represent a “tidying up” of the existing Dunsmore division to correct the shortfall in numbers of electors. The new division is a typically sprawling and readily identifiable rural area.

The division uses the county boundary to the south, the urban area of Rugby to the east and district administrative boundaries to the west. All the villages within the division are easily accessible by the A45 which runs east to west along the division. The division includes the Lime Tree Retirement Village and the rural areas south of Rugby and the farms and houses along Ashlawn Road, as they have more community links with the rural areas than with the town centre. In addition the River Leam runs through the division.

The area has numerous identity links through religious groups, education, health, recreational activities, family ties, bus routes, agriculture and history.

Women institute: An example would be Princethorpe WI who’s chairman lives in Frankton and whose members come from across the proposed Division.

Doctors surgeries in Dunchurch and Stretton-on-Dunsmore have patients from across the proposed division.

Education : 40% of children at state funded schools in Dunchurch do not live in that particular village but come from other villages across the division.

Bus route 580 travels through the area stopping in Ryton-on-Dunsmore on its way from Rugby to Coventry. Residents across the division meet regularly and socialise as a result of using this bus service.

Shared Vicars: the same vicar looks after a number of parishes within the division.

Shared organists: the same organist will play at a number of churches

There is a Strong Baptist Community based in Dunchurch that attracts members from across the Division.

Agriculture: Many farmers are involved in “Farm Watch” and “Horse watch” schemes run by the Police.

The main shopping town if public transport is used has to be Coventry, Leamington, and Rugby in that order, as these are the destinations for the limited bus service. The Bus service runs primarily to Coventry and Rugby.

R4 Lawford and New Bilton

Long Lawford and New Bilton

Electorate 8490

This proposal tidies up the discrepancies between the Borough ward of New Bilton and the established large rural parish of Long Lawford by adjusting the current divisional boundaries to encompass just these two areas. Whilst the electoral numbers are a little (but not excessively) high, this keeps the whole of the well-established Long Lawford parish together and the well-established community of New Bilton. This makes a very clear proposed divisional boundary, and leaves the remainder of the Wolston and the Lawfords ward properly included in Earl Craven division. Any attempt to move Long Lawford parish would result in too severe an electoral imbalance, and this would significantly divert from the current division.

R5 Bilton and Cawston

Bilton and (north of) Cawston

Electorate 8232

This proposal principally joins the established Bilton ward of the Borough with the Cawston parished area. The communities share some schools and the shopping facilities within the Bilton village area. These areas are both characterised by home owner occupation.

R6 Admirals and Overslade

Admirals, Overslade and (north-west) Bilton

Electorate: 8424

These are largely two established communities, the established Admirals and Overslade estates. The existing Admirals and Cawston ward is divided by the established Admirals urban estate and the much more recent rurally parished Cawston area. This division will combine like communities. Overslade has an existing community association which can and should extend to cover the Admirals estate which is currently unrepresented. Children largely share the same secondary school situated on the Admirals Estate. The small Bilton ward polling districts included in this proposal link the two estates geographically.

R7 Brownsover - dual member division

Newbold & Brownsover, Benn, and Coton & Boughton wards.

Electorate: 16,052

This is an urban area, taking in the centre of Rugby town. This proposal takes the current Brownsover 2-member division and maps it more accurately to the established above three Borough wards. It also takes the opportunity to adjust the current vast overweight of electoral population. The new division is consistently served by clustered primary schools and childrens’ centres, and established community and residents associations. It shares the highest indices of deprivation within the Borough, reflected by the provision of shared services. It is developing shared medical services, and largely shares the same secondary school. We are proposing a dual member division as we believe the area has a high degree of commonality and that to split the area would involve drawing arbitrary lines which would not reflect community identity.

R9 Eastlands & Hillmorton – dual member division

Electorate 16083

This proposal takes the current established Eastlands and Hillmorton 2-member division and seeks to align the established Borough wards of Eastlands, Paddox and Hillmorton, which it does with the small exception that a tiny rural part (polling district KK2 in Clifton-Upon Dunsmore parish) in Hillmorton ward is excluded to maintain electoral numbers. This polling district has many rural characteristics and is separated from the rest of the new proposed division by the main West Coast railway line which splits the Hillmorton ward. Other than these tidying exercises, this proposal represents minimal representational disruption within a well-established eastern Rugby urban division. It has many established communalities of schools.

As indicated this division is largely co terminus with Rugby Borough Council wards comprising Hillmorton, Paddox and Eastlands. The local community forum serves this area and by achieving co termonsity it will allow better delivery of local services into the eastern half of Rugby.

This area also fits with the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, and the Primary School Cluster, it has an Academy School serving the area called Ashlawn.

Estate Agents in Rugby call the area generally to the east leading to Hillmorton as it is a sought after area with a steady community. GP surgery borders the area and serves this part of town.

Hillmorton has a village character; a WI, charitable trust, Village Green working group and its own Church parished area

Paddox is a connecting community area again Church parished, Paddox Community Centre, Shopping parade giving local facilities.

Eastlands takes in Rugby school along with the new Diamond Jubilee Centre a green corridor area links through to Hillmorton and allotments local shops serves the area.

A new Scout hut is being progressed and serves the eastern half of town, the canal borders the wards and is used as a connecting corridor into town, Hillmorton Locks is a place of heritage.

The main roads A428 leading out of Rugby and Clifton Rd, Lower Hillmorton Rd, area link the area to motorways and gives access to the railway station.

We are proposing that this area remains a dual member division as that creates the best fit having regard to the three statutory criteria.

Conservative proposal

See map 5

Rugby Borough will continue to, experience substantial housing growth. This review comes at a welcome time for Rugby as it allows for those new areas of development where planning permission has been approved to be incorporated into the Divisions to which they will inevitably hold the closest ties.

Legislation requires that recommendations proposed by the Boundary Commission reflect estimated changes in the number and distribution of electors likely to take place over a five- year period from the end of the review. Thus this consideration must be paramount when proposing new Division boundaries in Rugby Borough and have been intrinsically observed in these proposals.

It is illogical to place polling district KK2 into the present Division of Fosse as the growth in this area of the forthcoming BT Mast Site will have intrinsic transport, education and healthcare links with the current Rugby Borough ward of Hillmorton. It is for this reason that it is essential to incorporate KK2 into a new Hillmorton Division. Similarly it is an anomaly, which must be rectified, that polling district KJ2 and present polling districts DA, DB and DC presently fall within the Division boundaries of Fosse. The inclusion of DA, DB and DC into Fosse has always been inconsistent with natural community links in this area of the Borough. Residents of DA, DB and DC live in an urban area and share inherent links with neighbouring urban polling districts: they use the same amenities, schools and GP’s surgeries for example. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co- terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

R1 Fosse

Electorate 8503

Burton Hastings, Bramcote, Shelford, Smockington Ash Fell, Wolvey Heath Copston Magna, Wolvey, Shilton Fields, Shilton, Withybrook, Wibtoft, Willey, Little Wlton, Moors Kirby, Street Ashton, Pailton, Churchover, Newton, Newbold On Avon, Cathiron, Hungerfield, Easenhall, Stretton under Fosse, Brinklow, Wrautam, Ansty, Barnacle

it is essential to incorporate KK2 into a new Hillmorton Division. Similarly polling district KJ2 and present polling districts DA, DB and DC presently fall within the Division boundaries of Fosse. The inclusion of DA, DB and DC into Fosse has always been inconsistent with natural community links in this area of the Borough. Residents of DA, DB and DC live in an urban area and share inherent links with neighbouring urban polling districts: they use the same amenities, schools and GP’s surgeries for example. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

Presently Fosse incorporates urban polling districts that share no ties with its predominantly rural areas. The polling districts KJ2, DA and DB have natural community links for a plethora of reasons with polling districts immediately to their south and thus must be placed into a new Division of Brownsover & Coton. The incorporation of the village of Newbold-on-Avon into Fosse is acceptable given its rural links and insulated amenities.

The villages of Barnacle, Wolvey and Shilton cover a large geographical area with a low population The villages of Shilton and Wolvey have a direct connection via the B4065.

Shilton, Barnacle and Wolvey share a natural grouping through their Schools, Churches and social activities.

R2 Earl Craven

Electorate 8026

Binley Woods, Brandon, Bretford, Church Lawford, Long Lawford, King’s Newnham, Wolston

This area shares the characteristic of being largely greenbelt. This Division will incorporate Long Lawford which is presently split from its natural more rural neighbouring areas. Presently Long Lawford is adjoined to the Rugby Borough Council ward of New Bilton in the County Council electoral Division boundaries. This is illogical given the natural community links it has to the west of the Borough. Consideration of transport links has also been paramount as, for example, the no 86 bus service runs between Wolston (presently part of Earl Craven) and primarily serves Long Lawford also.

The Church Lawford parish Councillors believe it is in the best interests of the local community if they are grouped with Wolston. The rationale is that the strong connection with children sharing the same schools and with the alignment of church congregations, strengthened by the fact that 2 churches share the same vicar

R3 Dunsmore & Leam Valley

Electorate 8139

The proposed Division of Dunsmore & Leam Valley will replace the present division of Dunchurch. It will incorporate Ryton on Dunsmore to provide natural co-terminosity with the present Rugby Borough Council ward of Dunsmore & Leam Valley, ensure the new division incorporates the correct number of electors and also will incorporate polling district KO, presently in the Division of Caldecott, which falls within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Dunsmore & Leam Valley.

The two largest villages within the division are Dunchurch and Ryton on Dunsmore, both of which are connected by the A45 that runs along much of the northern boundary. Other villages within the ward are easily accessed via B roads that radiate off from the A45. The residents of Ryton on Dunsmore, Stretton on Dunsmore and Dunchurch are well served by their own facilities and do not share the facilities of the other major villages as they each have their own schools, doctor’s surgeries, public houses, village halls, post offices, petrol stations, churches, recreation grounds and community groups.

Ryton on Dunsmore is a self-contained village with few ties or connections with other villages in Rugby. Although it sits on two major road routes this does not mean that there is good communication or public transport links between the villages. It has its own primary and junior school, Post office and Co-op shop along with a butchers and Chinese Takeaway. The major employers for the people of the village are to the west in Coventry. Very few use the limited bus service to get to their places of employment.

Access to medical facilities is non-existent within the Village and the primary doctor surgery is in Wolston. For those people who use the Wolston Surgery medication is available at the surgery that has a good dispensary. The Parish Council runs transport two times per week to take people to the doctors in Wolston and collect prescriptions that can then be collected from the Ryton Post Office. Ryton on Dunsmore also takes advantage of the library in Wolston and the sports and leisure facilities provided in the Wolston Community Centre.

The school at Ryton on Dunsmore serves both the Village and Bubbenhall. The older school attendees go to Leamington, Rugby and Coventry by school buses, there are a few that attend Princethorpe Private School, which are transported privately.

The main shopping town if public transport is used has to be Coventry, Leamington, and Rugby in that order, these are the destinations for the limited bus service. The Bus service runs primarily to Coventry and Rugby. .

R4 Admirals and Cawston

Electorate 7248

Bilton, New Bilton and Cawston

The proposed division would include small areas of Bilton and New Bilton. It is a largely residential area which sits between the Western Relief Road and the Bilton Road (B4642).

The present Admirals & Cawston Division is heavily under-represented. Areas around Cawston, however, will soon experience significant housing growth with 600 dwellings to be built at the Cawston Extension site and 250 dwellings to be built at the Cawston Lane site. The proposed new boundaries for this Division incorporate areas presently in the Division of Caldecott which have natural community links with areas in the Admirals area and provide co-terminosity with Rugby Borough Council wards. The natural road boundary between the present Admirals & Cawston Division and Caldecott Division has been incorporated creating a succinct Division in terms of geography, co-terminosity and community links particularly in terms of education provision.

R5 Bilton and Hillside

Electorate 7925

Bilton

The proposed ward’s westerly boundary runs parallel to Alwyn Road and includes Lime Tree Avenue. It then runs along the Bilton Road

In order to ensure a key principal objective of the Boundary Commission it is essential that single member Divisions are created in order to create fair and balanced representation for the elector and ensure accountability of the elected to the elector. These proposals maintain co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards whilst also incorporating areas presently within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Rokeby and Overslade which are naturally linked through communities, amenities, transport links and routes as well as education, healthcare and dental provisions with areas of the Rugby Borough Council ward of Bilton. This new Division was previously part of the present Division of Caldecott. The incorporation of polling district FG is logical given this polling districts inherent links with amenities within other polling districts within the new Division of Bilton & Hillside.

R6 Caldecott

Electorate 8438

This new single member division will ensure the co-terminosity of areas presently within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Rokeby & Overslade and areas of the Rugby Borough Council ward of Eastlands which hold natural community links. By incorporating polling districts FB, FC, FD and FF community links are maintained and similarly this is ensuring by incorporating some areas of the town centre and the area around the Hospital of St Cross.

R7 Benn and New Bilton

Electorate 8192

In the creation of a new single member Division of Benn & New Bilton essential community and amenity links have been observed. Co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards has been considered and incorporated. The present Division of Brownsover incorporates areas of Rugby town centre in an unreasoned manner. This new division will incorporate polling districts either side of the railway but residents in GE are as likely to use schools and amenities within polling districts BE, BG and BH as in polling districts incorporated into the new Division of Brownsover and Coton and also enjoy their own amenities presently. The argument for the incorporation of GE into a Division with areas in the Benn Rugby Borough Council ward is strong There is also the need to ensure that polling districts DA, DB, DC and KJ2 are incorporated into the same electoral Division due to the overwhelming community and amenity links these districts share.

R8 Coton and Brownsover

Electorate 8290

(South of) Churchover, Brownsover

This northern boundary of this division follows the A426, it includes the whole of the more densely populated Brownsover. The proposed boundary goes as far south as the Oxford Canal, then reaches northerly to the junction between Boughton Road and the A426. From there it includes Elliotts Field.

The whole of this proposed division is easily accessed by all areas included and all are easily arrived at via links to the A246.

This review allows the opportunity to incorporate areas in the Rugby Borough Council wards of Coton & Boughton and Newbold & Brownsover which share inherent links. It was noted by the Boundary Commission in its final recommendations on the electoral arrangements for Rugby Borough Council in September of 2011 that the main shopping area serving the Brownsover estate were proposed to be incorporated into the Coton & Boughton ward in draft proposals. Alterations to the boundaries were made to ensure this area was incorporated into the Newbold & Brownsover ward. Now the main shopping area in Coton & Boughton, Central Park, services both residents of Brownsover and Coton & Boughton which ensures both these shopping areas are incorporated into the same Division. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

R9 Eastlands

Electorate 8048

The proposed Eastlands Ward is situated to the east of the urban area of the Borough and takes in Hart Fields and Rugby Golf Course.

The creation of a single member Division of Eastlands allows for housing growth in KK2 to be succinctly adjoined to areas where natural links will be shared in Hillmorton. Co- terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards has been observed. Schools serving the communities in this area have been given particular consideration. The Eastlands Primary School sits in the centre of this proposed ward.

R10 Hillmorton

Electorate 8342

(South) Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, Hillmorton

The easterly boundary runs along the A5, which is the boundary for the borough and the county, to take in the southerly part of Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, which includes the whole of the Rugby Radio Station ground west of the A5.

This division is rural with the High Street, which becomes Crick Road, providing a transport link across the division and to the A5.

It was noted by the Boundary Commission in its final recommendations on the electoral arrangements for Rugby Borough Council in September of 2011 that the Rugby Borough Council ward of Hillmorton should include parts of Clifton upon Dunsmore parish where development was due to take place. Similarly these proposals incorporate polling district KK2 which falls within the Churchover parish but which can be warded using the precedent set by the Boundary Commission in 2011. Residents of KK2 will share natural community, school, healthcare and amenity links with Hillmorton and should logically be incorporated into a new single member Hillmorton Division. These proposals do not disrupt present community links: they ensure present links are maintained and co-terminosity is ensured wherever possible. Additionally Hillmorton residents will use the new amenities and schools in KK2.

4. Warwick

Warwick District is the largest District in the County, population-wise, and has experienced significant growth in the past ten years to 138,000 people living in Warwick in 2011. The District contains the four main towns of Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Whitnash and a number of smaller, more rural settlements.

The development of the M40 had a significant impact on the District, offering commuting opportunities and access for industry. There are also good rail links to the rest of the West Midlands Region and to London. Warwick District performs well across almost all economic indicators; employment rates are high and income levels are above average, but there have been less positive consequences in terms of housing affordability and traffic congestion.

The District has a relatively high concentration of jobs in financial and business services, as well as public sector occupations. Tourism is an important part of the local economy. Key attractions are Warwick and Kenilworth Castles, Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton, the canal network and the Royal Showground which hosts a variety of shows, exhibitions and events.

Like other parts of the County, there are pockets of both affluence and deprivation across Warwick District, although the balance is towards relatively low levels of deprivation.

The proposed route of the HS2 railway runs right through Warwick district.

There are two proposals for Warwick one put forward by the Conservative group and the other is a joint proposal by the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups. There are no divisions in either proposal which fall outside the 10% electoral variance. Both proposals achieve 45.5% coterminosity with district wards which is good for the area. The standard variation from the average number of electors for the area falls between 326 and 433.

There are significant differences in terms of the areas covered by the individual divisions in each proposal and there is a significant difference of view as to whether Leamington North should be a dual member division. The Conservative proposal recommends only single member divisions.

Conservative proposal

See map 6

W 1 Budbrooke & Bishop’s Tachbrook

Hatton, Hampton Magna, Hampton on the Hill, Norton Lindsey, Sherbourne, Barford, Bishops Tachbrook,

Electorate 8331

W 2 Lapworth and Leek Wootton

Lapworth, King’s Wood, Leek Wootton, N.W. Kenilworth (incl Abbey Fields)

Electorate 8340

More rural areas of Kenilworth.

W 3 Kenilworth St John’s

Central Kenilworth

Electorate 8340

W 4 Kenilworth Park Hill

Eastern side of Kenilworth including Kenilworth School

Electorate 8340

W 5 Cubbington

Stoneleigh, Stoneleigh Park, Baginton, Finham Sewage, Bubbenhall, Abbey Business Park, Cubbington, Western-under-Weatherley, Hunningham, Offchurch, Radford Semele

Electorate 7697

Rural area with business parks which are located close to one another. There are some small residential areas which are well connected by the …

Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are the closest towns for these

W 6 Leamington North

New Cubbington, Lillington

Electorate 7383

W 7 Leamington Clarendon

North Leamington Spa, including the Parade, the main shopping area

Electorate 7164

W 8 Leamington Milverton

Electorate 7430

Old Milverton has a village feel to it, unlike the more densely populated North Leamington. It is relatively free standing in that it has good road connections to Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Warwick but it is apart from all of them.

The River Avon runs to the west of Old Milverton.

W 9 Leamington Brunswick

Electorate 7207

The proposed ward has Victoria Park at its most northerly point and Redland Road Recreational Ground to the southernmost point. In between it joins W. Leamington Spa’s more urbanised and central residential areas.

W 10 Leamington Willes

Sydenham

Electorate 7328

W 11 Warwick North

Electorate 8170

This includes the Woodloes estate.

W 12 Warwick West

Electorate 8170

This proposed division runs from the centre of Warwick town.

To its west runs the A46 down to the junction with the M40 so far as the River Avon, which the boundary then follows to the Stratford Road. Onto Cliff Hill the boundary then follows the Grand Union Canal back to the A46 but encompassing the Canal Centre. Central Warwick is a tourist destination.

W 13 Warwick South

Heathcote

Electorate 8415

This proposed division takes in the industrial estates accessed from Europa Way.

W 14 Whitnash

Whitnash

Electorate 7187

The proposal is to leave the division of Whitnash as it is. Along the eastern side of Whitnash runs the Chiltern Railway Line, which separates Whitnash from Sydenham. The Fosse Way (B4455) runs along the southern end of Whitnash. It then follows Harbury Lane and just to the east of Tackbrook Road.

Whitnash is its own locality having been separated from South Leamington. It has its own Town Plan, which identifies parking and dog fouling/littering to be the main issues of concern to the residents of this largely residential town.

The projections to 2020 lend themselves to continued electoral equality if Whitnash is to remain unchanged.

Labour/Liberal Democrat proposal

See map 7

W1 - Lapworth and Budbrooke

It runs along the M40 corridor and is a rural ward populated by villages and hamlets

Electorate 8269

A commuter belt for Birmingham and Coventry or Stratford or Warwick / Leamington. The smaller villages and hamlets to the west look to Lapworth

W2 – Kenilworth St Johns

The ward, originally simply the main part of southern Kenilworth and to the west, it has been enlarged to include Leek Wootton, a sizeable village just 1.5 miles to the south and which looks to Kenilworth, and a larger rural area to the west of Kenilworth.

There is a natural cohesion about the enlarged ward: villages are served by Kenilworth school and certain primary schools; there is also a federation between the primary school in Leek Wootton and in Kenilworth. Services such as GP practices cover the rural areas and the local paper covers the area.

Electorate 7335

W3 – Kenilworth Abbey

The ward is very much as it was with minor adjustments to the spilt in the town centre of Kenilworth.

Very little to change to the area. As before.

Electorate 8028

W4 – Kenilworth Park Hill

The ward is very much as it was with minor adjustments to the spilt in the town centre of Kenilworth. Party bordered by the railway and certain streets to the west, the airport to the north and more or less Leicester lane to the east.

Very little to change to the area. As before, but with the addition of the villages of Stoneleigh and Ashow which look west to Kenilworth or possibly to Coventry / University for work. The Kenilworth Courier (or Coventry Evening Telegraph) is the local paper for the area. Secondary school provision is served by Kenilworth School (or Coventry schools).

Electorate 7237

W5 – Cubbington and Bishop’s Tachbrook

The ward consists of outlying villages to the west and south-west of Leamington Spa including Cubbington, Bubbenhall, Offchurch and Baginton as well as Radford Semele and Bishop’s Tachbrook. The area is bordered by the Rugby and Stratford District and Borough / Parish Council authorities to the east and south and by the urban area of Leamington to the west.

Most of the main villages have their own primary schools and GP surgeries and these in turn serve the outlying smaller villages and hamlets. The Fosse Way acts as a natural corridor for many of these villages.

Electorate 7658

W6 – Leamington North –dual member division

The ward consists of the built up area of Leamington to the north and east of the town centre. It lies to the north of the river Leam and to the west of a tributary.

Most of the area is a long established part of NE Leamington including the former village of Lillington with some extension towards the village of Cubbington. The area is served by N Leamington School as well as several primary schools.

Electorate 15536

W7 – Leamington Milverton

The ward consists of the built up area of Leamington to the north and west of the town centre. It now lies to the north of the river Leam to make it consistent with the other wards in Leamington (whereas previously it fell to the north of the railway line to the south). Most of the area is a long established part of NW Leamington and extends to include the village of Old Milverton. The area is served by Trinity School.

Electorate 7753

W8 – Leamington Brunswick

Electorate 7207

The ward consists of the built up area of Leamington to the south and west of the town centre. It now lies directly to the south of the river Leam to make it consistent with the other wards in Leamington (whereas previously it fell to the south of the railway line). To the east it is bordered by the railway line and to the south by the parish and district of Whitnash with its own town council. To the west is Warwick.

Most of the area is a long established part of SW Leamington and is served by ‘Old Town’. It is naturally bordered by the railway. It is served by Leamington Town Council and falls within St John the Baptist parish.

W14 – Whitnash

Electorate 7790

The division remains essentially the same as before with a minor change to the south (loss of a couple of dozen homes in a rural segment (‘fingers’) reaching out to the SE.

The ward consists of the built up area around the original village of Whitnash and is bordered by the railway line (in the main) to the east, Brunswick and the parish of St. John the Baptist to the north and Warwick to the west. It is an existing divisional area. It has its own Town Council.

W11 - Warwick North

Electorate 7800

The division consists of the built up area of Warwick to the north of the town centre, with the canal forming its southern boundary. The only change to the present division is the addition of part of polling district WHD from Warwick South.

The division is a long established part of north Warwick with its two main communities of Woodloes Park and the Percy Estate on either side of Coventry Road. The proposed new division keeps most of the original division boundaries and historic community links.

Both communities are served by Woodloes Primary, Emscote Infants and All Saints Junior schools as well as Aylesford Secondary School. There is a community centre, The Gap, which serves the whole division.

The area on the other side of Emscote Road being added to the proposed division is in the new Warwick District Emscote ward. The community there, at present in Warwick South, is partially separated from the rest of that division, as it is bordered by the river and the railway line, so is better placed in the new Warwick North division, where it is already served by the same schools, community centre and GP surgeries.

W12 - Warwick West

Electorate 8170

The division consists of the built up area of central and south west Warwick, bordered by the canal to the north, and includes the town centre.

The division is a long established part of central and south west Warwick, which includes the town centre and the Chase Meadow housing estate. The division is served by Westgate and

Newburgh primary schools as well as Aylesford Secondary School. The proposed new division keeps the original division boundaries and therefore the historic community links.

W13 - Warwick South

Electorate 7980

The division consists of the area of south east Warwick including parts of the Warwick Gates housing estate. The only proposed change to the present division is the loss of part of polling district WHD to Warwick North. The proposed division is a long established part of south east Warwick and keeps most of its original division boundaries and historic community links.

The small area on the other side of Emscote Road being lost to the proposed division is in the new Warwick District Emscote ward. The community there is at present partially separated from the rest of the Warwick South division, as the area is bordered by the river and the railway line, so is better placed in the new Warwick North division, where it is already served by the same schools, community centre and GP surgeries.

W10 – Leamington Willes

Electorate 7328

The division remains unchanged. It is an existing divisional area.

5. Stratford on Avon

Stratford-on-Avon District is a large, predominantly rural District, in the south of Warwickshire. In 2011 the population of the District was 121,000. Agriculture plays an important role in the local economy and has helped to create a mixed rural environment of pasture and arable farming. The District is also characterised by small market towns, historic buildings and pretty villages making it attractive to visitors. There are excellent motorway, road and rail networks, which connect the District not only with Birmingham and the West Midlands, but also with London, the North and the Southwest.

These transport routes have played an important role in the development of an increasing industrial base with a number of companies of national and international renown. Much of the employment within the District is dependent on tourism and farming and unemployment rates are below average. Many residents of the District commute to higher paid jobs outside, while the lower paid jobs within the District are often filled by people commuting into the District.

While average household income is above average, this is somewhat distorted by a small proportion of extremely wealthy households.

Culture and tourism obviously play a significant role in the District as well. The most famous event of the District’s history is, of course, the birth of William Shakespeare in Stratford- upon-Avon itself. The five properties connected with his life that are preserved in and around the town play a major part in the local economy. Millions of tourists visit Stratford every year from all around the world, and over 17% of jobs in the District rely on their presence.

Stratford-on-Avon District has about 250 towns and villages spread over 977 square kilometres. This makes it one of the largest Districts in England and means access to services and the delivery of services are both major issues for residents.

A significant factor is the age of local residents, with the age profile older than for Warwickshire as a whole. Property prices are extremely high in many parts of the District, and many people, especially young people, cannot afford to move into, or move within, the District.

There is agreement across the groups over most of the proposed divisions. The differences relate to the arrangements for Stratford Town relating to Divisions S5 Stratford North, S12 Stratford south and Stratford east. The Conservative Group proposes 3 single member divisions and the Liberal Democrat Group propose 1 dual member division and 1 single member division.

There are no proposed divisions which fall outside of the permitted electoral variance in either proposal. Both sets of proposals achieve a level of coterminosity of 58.3% which in our view is excellent given the geography of the area. The standard deviation from the average number of electors per division varies between 395 and 406 electors.

In both proposals there are minor issues relating to the Old Stratford & Drayton parishes even though the county divisions are following the approved district ward boundaries and in both sets of proposals there would be a need to ward some of the Stratford upon avon parishes, mainly because the divisions are following approved district ward boundaries.

Conservative proposal for Stratford Town - See maps 8a and 9

S5 Stratford North

Electorate 7881

District wards of Avenue, Hathaway and Bishopton

The proposed division is co-terminous with the new district wards approved by the Boundary Committee for England.

S 12 Stratford South

Electorate 7989

Bridgetown, Shottery and Guildhall wards

The proposed division is co-terminous with the new district wards approved by the Boundary Committee for England

Division S13 Stratford East

Electorate 7826

Tiddington, Welcombe, and Clopton wards

The proposed division is co-terminous with the new district ward boundaries approved by the Boundary Committee for England

Liberal Democrat proposal for Stratford Town -See maps 8b and 10

S5 – Stratford North

Electorate 8410

North of Stratford Town Centre including Gold Clun and Clopton Park.

Stratford Avenue and Newtown remains largely the same but incorporates DJa [Hathaway]. This area has a lot of light industry and the boundary is coterminous with that of the Birmingham road. This division also incorporates the future plans for a regeneration zone which is part of the emerging neighbourhood plan and the core strategy. It is proposed that this division should be renamed Stratford North.

S 12 Stratford South - dual member division

Electorate 16331

It is proposed that this division should be a dual member division for the reasons set out below.

This proposed division includes the part of the Stratford town centre below the Alcester Road and Tiddington including the Stratford upon Avon Golf Course and Racecourse

Stratford South There is a lot of community cohesion and coterminosity between the areas. South of the river use facilities such as schools, college, shopping, library, medical facilities etc. we also share the recreation ground with Waterside and the theatre. It has a tradition of being a dual member ward which also includes the roads structure either side of the river.

To split Stratford South would mean cutting across a huge part of the community of Old Town area and shopping area. It would also mean cutting through a district ward. Residents have trouble enough identifying which council does what and we believe that the county division should be coterminous with the parish and district wards. By splitting a district ward you would lose cohesion. There should be fairness and clarity of representation.

Stratford Proposed Rural Divisions agreed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups

S1 Tanworth and Henley

Earlswood, Wood End, Tanworth in Arden, Ullenhall, Henley-in-Arden, Wootton Wawen, Claverdon, Preston Bagot ? Wolverton/Langley as well?

Electorate 8534

This division would comprise of the parishes of Beaudesert, Henley-in-Arden, Tanworth in Arden and Ullenhall , together with the parishes of Wootton Wawen etc. The area is very rural with Henley-in-Arden being the main market town within the area and a natural focus for local shopping and services from the surrounding parishes. Very rural area

S2 Studley

Studley, Sambourne, Coughton, Alne, Aston Cantlow, Morton Bagot, Old Berrow

Electorate 7459

This division encompasses Studley North and South district wards and parts of the Kinwarton ward. Studley is the main town within this division and the focus for the surrounding rural areas. Studley itself should not be split because of its strong community identity with a parish council meeting at least twice per month. Mappleborough Great Green used to be part of Studley parish and many in Sambourne are involved in social activity in Studley. Coughton has been part of the Studley Division for long time. Great Alne and Kinwarton are less associated with Studley but if Studley is to be expanded then the links with Studley are more relevant than some other areas to the north and east. Aston Cantlow has some links with Morton Bagot and Old Berrow which are already in the Studley division. The three parishes of Morton Bagot, Oldberrow and Spernal have a lot in common (once being a parish council themselves).

S3 Alcester

Alcester, Arrow, Haselor, Wilmcote, Temple Grafton, Binton

Electorate 8426

This division incorporates the district wards of Alcester Town, Alcester and Rural and the surrounding elements of the Kinwarton and Wootton Wawen wards, and some very small parts of the Welford on Avon ward. The latter are included to make better sense of the geography. Alcester has town status and is the main focus for the more rural villages in the surrounding area.

Alcester town itself encompasses Alcester and Kinwarton parish areas and the community has very strong links to Great Alne, Oversley Green, Kings Coughton and Arrow. All look to Alcester for services such as doctors, library, community facilities and schools as well as shopping.

S4 Bidford and Welford

Bidford on Avon, Welford on Avon, Salford Priors, Clifford Chambers

Electorate 8101

There are close connections between Bidford on Avon, Salford Priors, and Welford on Avon. The rural areas are close to each other and share a long history and similar issues. There is recognised collaboration between the Parish Councils. Bidford-on-Avon, is the main rural settlement and, is the location for the following services:

- Medical Centre - Fire Station - Community Library - Supermarket

Many associations are based either at Bidford-on-Avon or Salford Priors, Welford, their membership being drawn from these localities and serving all three communities in particular - - St John’s Ambulance - Badgers - Brownies - Bidford Young Fire Fighters - Bidford and District History Society

Bidford-on-Avon and Salford Priors have, for a number of years, shared the Marsh Farm Sand and Gravel extraction site and are both members of the Marsh Farm Liaison Committee set up by the Secretary of State (at the time of the original extraction permission)

S6 Wellesbourne

Electorate 7929

Snitterfield, Hatton Rock, Charlecote, Wellesbourne

The proposed division covers the most of the Wellesbourne district wards with the Snitter field ward and a small element of Wootton Wawen. Wellesbourne is the main focus for the surrounding villages.

S7 Kineton and Red Horse

Electorate 8343

Moreton Morrell, Lighthorne Heath, Gaydon, Kineton, Warmington, Ratley, Shotteswell, Middle and Upper Tyso, Oxhill

The boundary of the proposed division follows the geographic escarpment of Edge Hill at the south easterly end of the district ?. The name derives from an earth cut horse hill figure that was formerly above the village of Tysoe.

The proposed Kineton and Red Horse division is largely based on the existing county division. Many if the villages in this area share common service areas and mostly attend the 42

same schools, either the local village school such as Tysoe or the main secondary school of Kineton.

Kineton is the main village within the area and provides secondary education for most of the proposed division and much of the area uses the medical services in Kineton.

S8 Stour and Vale

Electorate 7046

Atherstone on Stour, Preston-on-Stour, Alderminster, Ettington, Long Marston, Lower Quinton, Pillerton Priors, Newbold-on-Stour, Halford, Armscote, Blackwell, Ilmington, Darlingscott

Many of the villages share common service areas. Secondary education is mainly provided by Shipston High School.

S9 Shipston

Electorate 7972

Shipston-on-Stour, Stretton on Fosse, Willington Burmington, Little Wolford, Great Wolford, Barton on the Heath, Little Compton, Long Compton, Whichford, Stourton Cherington, Lower Brailes

The main town in this division is Shipston on Stour and accordingly it has a strong sense of its own identity which should not be divided. The proposed arrangement keeps the town whole and covers the same area as the existing county division. In addition to the need to keep the town itself whole our we believe that it assists the overall pattern of divisions in the district and in particular around Shipston enabling elector numbers to remain within the permitted electoral variance. The areas included look to the market town of Shipston for most services especially secondary schooling, doctors, leisure centre and shopping. Shipston acts as the service area for the proposed Shipston division.

S 10 Feldon

Ufton, Harbury, Bishop’s Itchington, Ladbroke, Farnborough, Long Itchington

Electorate 7037

This division combines most of the Napton and Fenny Compton, Harbury, Long Itchington and Stockton district wards together and the remaining elements of Bishop Itchington and, Red Horse wards

Napton and Fenny Compton covers a large rural area which is relatively sparsely populated. It is composed of a large number of small parishes namely Chapel Ascote, Fenny Compton, Hodnell & Wills Pastures, Ladbroke, Napton, Priors Hardwick, Priors Marston, Radbourne, Upper & Lower Shuckburgh, Stoneton, Watergall and Wormleighton.

The other wards surround the town of Southam up to the boundary of Stratford District and are of a similarly rural character but without quite the same number of parishes.

S11 Southam, Stockton and Napton

Southam, Stockton, Napton on the Hill

Electorate 8402

Southam has town status and a strong sense of its identity. It should be kept whole within the same division. It provides most of the local services to Stockton and Napton and the surrounding areas including medical services, shopping, and secondary education. Transport and communication links are good across the proposed area. Parts of the Stockton, and Fenny Compton district wards have been included to achieve electoral figures which fall within the electoral variance. Most of the surrounding villages look to Southam as the main centre and for secondary education. There are good road links with the surrounding areas.