Hello I Live in Heslington, York. Electorally That Has Been In

From: Sent: 26 March 2015 08:52 To: FOI Subject: Heslington, York

Hello

I live in Heslington, York. Electorally that has been in Heslington Ward (and recently York Outer constituency). I did not make a submission to your original consultation as we were assured we would remain in Heslington ward.

However, an unforseen change to the ward boundary has moved my address and those of a couple of nearby streets (Peel Close, Turners Croft, Westmoor Lane) to Hull Road ward.

Julian Sturdy MP contacted you about this, as Heslington residents are unable to understand why they have been removed from Heslington, the village where they are situated, to an urban ward (in York Central constituency) with an entirely different demographic, interests and concerns.

You first replied that it was a mistake, because you thought our estate was part of the University which was being transferred as a whole to Hull Road. You then said it was done deliberately because there would be too many voters in the new Heslington & Fulford ward.

I'm particularly concerned that the ward and constituency boundaries are no longer contiguous. In fact I have been unable to find out whether I will be able to vote at the Village Meeting Room in the May local election, as I have done for 20 years.

I would like to submit a FOI request to see full documentation of the decision/s in relation to these three streets, including internal memos etc. I also need to know the current and projected size of the new Heslington & Fulford ward, and to see your evidence of how the inclusion of my address would have made that too large.

Regards

17 April 2015

Dear ,

Our ref: 03/15

Thank you for your email of 26 March 2015, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You have requested:

“…full documentation of the decision/s in relation to … three streets [mentioned in your email], including internal memos etc. I also need to know the current and projected size of the new Heslington & Fulford ward, and to see your evidence of how the inclusion of my address would have made that too large.”

The Commission does hold information relevant to your request. Please find enclosed a list of all documents released and attachments of the information you have requested.

By way of explanation, the Commission originally published its final recommendations in November 2013. It was established that the polling district mapping provided by the Council was inaccurate and did not reflect the electoral register. To correct the error we re-consulted on our proposals for York and specifically the amendment in the Heslington area. The Council confirmed that our proposals ensured that the University of York campus would be located in our proposed Hull Road ward. During this consultation the proposals were largely supported with no compelling evidence received to persuade the Commission to move away from its proposals.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 3rd Floor Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG

Tel: 020 7664 8534; [email protected]; www.lgbce.org.uk

Our final recommendations also include the current and projected electorate of Fulford & Heslington ward on page 17. To include Peel Close, Turners Croft and West Moor Lane in Fulford & Heslington ward would result in an increase to the 2019 electorate of 174 and result in an electoral variance of 15%. This is evidenced in the spreadsheet enclosed with this letter. Our final recommendations are based on ensuring clear and identifiable ward boundaries and reflect the need both to reflect community identities and ensure that electors have a vote of broadly equal weight in York.

In respect of your request, I have enclosed correspondence between the Commission and City of York Council relating to the decisions made on the review. I have also enclosed the internal report that went to the Commission. However, most of the information you request is actually available on our website. The link is attached below.

Further information as to why we further consulted is located under the further draft recommendations and final recommendations sections of our website address: http://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/yorkshire-and-the-humber/north-yorkshire/city- of-york-fer. Our recommendations do not take into account parliamentary constituency boundaries and we are not, therefore, able to take into account any representations which are based on these issues.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting the reference number above in any correspondence.

If you wish to request a review of our decision, you should write to me, preferably at my email address:

[email protected]

Or in hard copy to:

Sarah Vallotton Business & Committee Services Manager Local Boundary Commission for England Layden House 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG

PLEASE NOTE: The Commission will be moving premises and my new address from Monday 27th April will be:

Sarah Vallotton Business & Committee Services Manager Local Boundary Commission for England 14th Floor Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QU

My telephone number from that date will be: 0330 500 1264

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Details of this procedure can be found on the ICO website: http://www.ico.gov.uk.

Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Vallotton Business & Committee Services Manager [email protected] 020 7664 8522

3 FOI 03/15

FOI Request – Information relating to the Fulford & Heslington Ward

Information Released Format Date Email trail relating to Final Recommendations Email 19-20 Nov 2013 Email Trail between A Hinds (LGBCE) and City of Email 20-21 Nov York Council 2013 Map of Council Proposed Heslington Boundary Map 28 Nov 2013 Email trail between Cllr, Aspden and A Hinds Email 5 December (LGBCE) 2013 Email trail between Cllr, Aspden and A Hinds Email 5 – 6 Dec (LGBCE) 2013 Archie Gall (LGBCE Director of Reviews) to Chief Letter 12 December Executive City of York 2013 Email Trail between A Hinds (LGBCE) and City of Email 5 – 6 Dec York Council 2013 Letter from Chief Executive City of York Council to Letter 7 Jan 2014 Archie Gall (LGBCE Director of Reviews) Archie Gall (LGBCE Director of Reviews) to Chief Letter 8 Jan 2014 Executive City of York Final Recommendations – Halifax College Report 21 Jan 2014 York Electorate Figures Table

Information Withheld & Reason Format Date No information has been withheld

Hinds, Alex

From: Buck, Richard Sent: 20 November 2013 10:16 To: Hinds, Alex Subject: FW: Electoral review of York: Final recommendations

From: Fuller, Heather Sent: 19 November 2013 14:12 To: Buck, Richard Subject: FW: Electoral review of York: Final recommendations

From: Sent: 19 November 2013 12:54 To: Fuller, Heather Subject: RE: Electoral review of York: Final recommendations

Dear Heather,

Thank you for this information.

We have one query about the review – the Halifax college area of the University of York appears to have been placed in the Fulford and Heslington ward. However these students were not part of the YEA Polling District and would normally vote with the other students at the university. The figures accompanying the report suggest the college will be in the new Hull Road ward but the map does not correlate with this.

Please could you clarify?

Many thanks,

From: Fuller, Heather [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 19 November 2013 12:25 To: Subject: Electoral review of York: Final recommendations

Dear

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF YORK: FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Thank you for your submission regarding the electoral review of York City Council. I am pleased to announce the Commission's report setting out its final recommendations for electoral

1 arrangements in York City Council. The full report and summary can be viewed on our website, http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/yorkshire-and-humberside/north-yorkshire/city-of-york-fer.

The Commission has now completed its review of York. The changes proposed must now be implemented by order subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. A draft Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament. The draft Order will provide for new electoral arrangements for York to be implemented at the local elections in 2015.

The full report and an interactive map of the final recommendations for York are available at http://consultation.lgbce.org.uk.

We would also like to invite you to participate in our online opinion survey. This survey seeks feedback on the review processes and procedures, in order to identify improvements that can be made. We would be grateful if you could spare some time to visit our website, at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/about-us/lgbce-opinion-survey to complete the survey.

If you require a paper copy of the opinion survey please contact Heather Fuller on 020 7664 8534

Yours sincerely

Alex Hinds Review Officer [email protected] 020 7664 8517

2 Hinds, Alex

From: Hinds, Alex Sent: 21 November 2013 14:21 To: Subject: RE: York final recommendations

Dear

Thanks for your response.

The polling district boundary lines supplied by City of York Council do not show polling district YEB covering Halifax College to the south of Heslington Lane. Halifax College for these purposes is within polling district YEA and subsequently in our Fulford & Heslington ward.

As I explained, the Commission adopted the boundary along Heslington Lane (including Walnut Close) and Main Street as this was a clear and identifiable ward boundary. I also note that the York Outer Liberal Democrats scheme during warding arrangements consultation proposed a separate University ward using polling districts YEB and YEC. Furthermore, it was proposed that YEA should be separated from eight colleges of the University and joined with Fulford or Dunnington. Based on the evidence received - the University being conterminous with YEB and YEC polling districts, these have been included in an expanded Hull Road ward.

I hope this clarifies your query.

Kind regards,

Alex

From: Sent: 21 November 2013 11:04 To: Hinds, Alex Subject: RE: York final recommendations

Dear Alex, Thanks for your reply; however, it is still not clear from your final report and map whether Halifax College will be included within Hull Road ward or Fulford & Heslington. It appears that the map says one thing, the report another. Points 62 and 63 of your report state that the whole of the University of York (covering Polling Districts YEB and YEC) would be included in an expanded Hull Road ward. This is supported by the projected electorate forecasts in Appendix A, Table A1 which lists the current electorate of the proposed Fulford & Heslington ward to be 3,273. 62. Councillor Aspden (Liberal Democrat – Fulford ward) and the York Outer Liberal Democrats proposed a further alternative to a single‐member Fulford & Heslington ward and University ward. Both suggested including the two polling districts covering the University of York in a revised Hull Road ward with the number of elected members for the proposed ward increasing from two to three members. The York Outer Liberal Democrats provided evidence that Hull Road ward includes the large student communities in Badger Hill, Tang Hall Lane and Thief Lane. Fulford and Heslington villages would then be combined in a separate single‐member ward. 63. We have carefully considered the submissions received and have decided to move away from our draft recommendations and adopt the proposals put forward by Councillor Aspden and York Outer Liberal Democrats. This arrangement would allow the University to be included in the three‐member

1 ward of Hull Road where there is a large resident student community. We consider this provides a better reflection of community identities and interests and will still provide for good electoral equality. However, the map provided on the LGBCE website suggests that one of the University of York colleges ‐ Halifax – off Garrowby Way, at the end of Holmefield Lane would be included within Fulford & Heslington. This area was left off the map supplied by the University of York Labour Club in their submission. Halifax College has always been part of Polling District YEB, with students voting at Vanbrugh College. It appears that either the map at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/reviews/york/final/york_f_sh1_so.pdf or the numbers in Appendix A are incorrect? If both polling districts YEB and YEC were to be transferred to the Hull Road ward the boundary would look closer to that in the attached map, outlined in orange. Please could you clarify? Kind regards,

City of York Council West Offices | York YO1 6GA www.york.gov.uk | facebook.com/cityofyork | @CityofYork

From: Hinds, Alex [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 20 November 2013 10:48

Subject: York final recommendations

Dear

Thank you for your email regarding the York final recommendations.

The final recommendations in this area are based on the proposals of the York Liberal Democrats. We also received a submission from the York University Labour Club with boundary line detail proposing where the division between the University and Heslington area should be (along Heslington Lane and Main Street). We’ve adopted this boundary line subject to minor amendments (Spring Lane being included in Hull Road ward) as this would provide for a clear and identifiable ward boundary in line with our statutory criteria. This arrangement forms the basis of our final recommendations.

I hope this clarifies your query.

Kind regards,

Alex Hinds Review Officer Local Government Boundary Commission for England 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG Tel: 020 7664 8517 | Twitter: https://twitter.com/LGBCE Email: [email protected] Web: www.lgbce.org.uk  Think of the environment...please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Help protect the environment! - please don't print this email unless you really need to. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2 This communication is from City of York Council.

The information contained within, and in any attachment(s), is confidential and legally privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this communication, or the information within, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Equally, you must not disclose all, or part, of its contents to any other person.

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City of York Council disclaims any liability for action taken in reliance on the content of this communication.

Hinds, Alex

From: Hinds, Alex Sent: 06 December 2013 14:23 To: Buck, Richard Subject: FW: LGBCE Review - City of York - Fulford and Heslington Ward

-----Original Message----- From: Cllr. K. Aspden Sent: 05 December 2013 16:45 To: Hinds, Alex Subject: Re: LGBCE Review - City of York - Fulford and Heslington Ward

Thank you Alex,

That's appreciated, sorry to pester you! Would welcome a conversation once you have had an opportunity to clarify the matter.

Kind regards

Keith

Sent from my iPhone

On 5 Dec 2013, at 16:26, "Hinds, Alex" > wrote:

Dear Cllr Aspden,

Thanks for your email. My apologies for the late reply in responding.

I am currently looking into this matter re electors in Halifax College and seeking clarification from the Council. I will reply with a full response via email or by telephone if you prefer as soon as I have heard from the Council.

Once again my apologies for not replying sooner.

Kind regards,

Alex Hinds

From: Cllr. K. Aspden Sent: 03 December 2013 13:54 To: Hinds, Alex; Buck, Richard Subject: LGBCE Review - City of York - Fulford and Heslington Ward

Dear Alex and Richard,

Professor Colin Mellors – whilst declaring an interest – has suggested I get in touch with you again to clarify the local boundary decision, regards Fulford and Heslington Ward. I appreciate that Alex has been dealing with correspondence from others at City of York Council.

I hope that the matter can be clarified, rather than amended, as either there has been a mistake in the report, statistics/electorates used or in the map drafting.

1 To help, your intended Fulford and Heslington ward (without Halifax College of the University of York),is 1% below the 2012 average and 10% above the 2018 average – so just within the limits.

However, with Halifax College within Fulford and Heslington ward (which your map shows, but the report and statistics/electorates do not) this rockets to over 20% above the average in 2012 and over 30% by 2018. The new Hull Road and University Road also significant reduces in size to less than 95%.

Our Electoral Services Manager has stated that this would mean another review would be required urgently in York.

Have you got a few minutes to book a telephone conversation please?

Kind regards,

Keith Aspden Councillor for Fulford ward

This communication is from City of York Council.

If you have received this communication in error, please return it immediately to the sender, then delete and destroy any copies of it.

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This communication is from City of York Council.

If you have received this communication in error, please return it immediately to the sender, then delete and destroy any copies of it.

City of York Council disclaims any liability for action taken in reliance on the content of this communication.

2 Hinds, Alex

Subject: FW: University of York

From: Sent: 06 December 2013 11:51 To: Hinds, Alex Subject: RE: University of York

Hi Alex

Yes, you are right, there is a slight error with the three streets you listed, they should have been moved across from YEA to YEB when the register was published on 16 October 2012, as part of the amendments that created the new YEC (Heslington East Campus) polling district and to ensure that YEB was a polling district that contained all the campus accommodation. Looking at the map it is clear that Peel Close, Turner’s Croft and West Moor Lane are sandwiched in the middle of the college accommodation.

I think they were missed by the team as they are not named courts like the majority of college accommodation, I was working on the Police and Crime Commissioner Election preparation from September (York was the lead authority for North Yorkshire and I was supporting the PARO) and was absent when the amendments were done, given the rush to publish the register for the election the cross checking wasn’t done fully.

Only early this year did I realise they three streets were not included in YEB.

The intention is to move them across when the next register is published in time for the European Parliamentary Elections next May to ensure all students vote at the campus polling station where we have special arrangements in place in light of the events in 2010 in Sheffield.

Regards

City of York Council | Electoral Services West Offices | Station Rise | York YO1 6GA

1 www.york.gov.uk | facebook.com/cityofyork |@CityofYork

From: Hinds, Alex [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 05 December 2013 12:19

Subject: University of York

I have a little problem regarding the University of York which I hope you can help me with.

Cllr Aspden has raised concerns about electors in the Halifax College area which he states have not been included with the University. I said I would look into this.

I did a count of the area indicated to be part of the University and the following things have struck me as odd. The electoral register has the following courts listed in polling district YEB.

St Lawrence Court – 238 Younger Court – 70 Wood Court – 117 Lindley Court – 107 Mc Hugh Court – 29 Ingram Court – 94 Irwin Court – 8 Ainsty Court – 76 Hickleton Court – 18 Eden Court – 40 Garrowby Way – 19

However the polling district mapping supplied has this area within polling district YEA. I have maintained this is the case to the Liberal Democrats.

There are also adjourning roads in the same area which from the electoral register are listed in polling district YEA.

Peel Close – 69 Turner’s Croft 53 West Moor Lane – 52

These roads are closer to the main road as the courts are and would appear to separate the courts from the greater part of YEB north of Heslington Road. Could you help me with this. I have maintained in my responses to the Liberal Democrats that the entire area is in YEA and that evidence it is part of the University was not raised during consultation. I am yet to respond to Cllr Aspden so any light you can shed on this would be much appreciated.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

Alex Hinds Review Officer Local Government Boundary Commission for England 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG Tel: 020 7664 8517 | Twitter: https://twitter.com/LGBCE Email: [email protected] Web: www.lgbce.org.uk 2  Think of the environment...please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

This communication is from City of York Council.

If you have received this communication in error, please return it immediately to the sender, then delete and destroy any copies of it.

City of York Council disclaims any liability for action taken in reliance on the content of this communication.

3 The Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Ms Kersten England Chief Executive City of York Council West Offices Station Rise York Y016GA

12 December 2013

Dear Ms England,

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF YORK: FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

As you will know, the Commission published its final recommendations for the City of York on 19 November 2013. Subsequent to this, a small issue with regard to the recommendations has been brought to our attention by the York Liberal Democrats.

The issue centres on Halifax College. Based on polling district mapping supplied by the Council (which formed the basis of the Commission's draft and final recommendations}, the College is included in polling district YEA (within Fulford & Heslington ward). However, the College is listed in the electoral register as part of polling district YEB. Under the Commission's final recommendations, this would result in Fulford & Heslington ward having a variance of 33% by 2018.

We have liaised with Andrew Flecknor, Electoral Services Manager, regarding the polling district mapping and requested clarification as to its accuracy. Mr Flecknor has confirmed that there is an error with the mapping supplied to the Commission by the Council. We have now been made aware that Halifax College was transferred from polling district YEA to YEB when the register was compiled last year. However, this is inconsistent with the polling district mapping provided by the Council which shows Halifax College and adjoining roads still within YEA polling district.

The Commission will be considering the effect of this new information on its final recommendations at its meeting on 21 January 2014. In advance of that I would appreciate it if you could confirm as a matter of urgency this error with the polling district mapping for the University area. I would further request you confirm that there are no other inconsistencies between the electoral register and the polling district mapping provided to the Commission at the beginning of the review.

This information will be important in order that the Commission can fully consider this issue when it meets on 21 January 2014. I would therefore appreciate it if you could

Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 3rd Floor Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1 M 5LG

Tel: 020 7664 8534; Fax: 020 7298 6788; [email protected]; www.lgbce.org.uk respond to these requests by Wednesday 8 January 2014. We will of course keep you informed of any decision the Commission makes at this meeting.

Thank you in advance with your assistance in this matter and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries.

Archie Gall Director of Reviews [email protected] 020 7664 8509

f' f ( ..'

Any provision of all campus accommodation included in a single polling district (in the case of the review, the new proposed Hull Road Ward) is beneficial to the voting arrangements of those electors, who can use a conveniE;mt polling station located on the campus where they attend for their studies.

Yours Sincerely,

Kersten England

Chief Executive, City of York Council

Ms Kersten England Chief Executive City of York Council West Offices Station Rise York YO1 6GA

8 January 2014

Dear Ms England,

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF YORK: FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Thank you for your letter of 7 January 2014 with regard to the inconsistency in the polling district mapping used during the recent electoral review.

Given the impact on the final recommendations, I will be reporting to the Commission at its meeting on 21 January 2014 outlining the next steps it should take to rectify the situation. The Commission does not have the power under legislation to amend its final recommendations once published. Given this, any correction will require the Commission to publish a set of further draft recommendations and consult on these before publishing revised final recommendations.

As a consequence, I would be grateful if you could confirm that the boundary marked in red on the accompanying map ensures that the whole of the University campus is contained within the proposed Hull Road ward. I would appreciate it if you could confirm this by Monday 20 January in order that the Commission can take this into account at its meeting.

I will of course be in contact with you again, once the Commission has met on 21 January. Thank you in advance with your assistance in this matter and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries.

Yours sincerely,

Archie Gall Director of Reviews [email protected] 020 7664 8509

Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 3rd Floor Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG

Tel: 020 7664 8534; Fax: 020 7298 6788; [email protected]; www.lgbce.org.uk

LGBCE (14) XX

Report to: Commission Meeting on 21 January 2014 Subject York Electoral review – Halifax College From Alex Hinds – Review Officer Richard Buck – Review Manager Commissioner Professor Paul Wiles Appendices Appendix A – Letter to from the Chief Executive of City of York Council dated 7 January 2014 Appendix B - Correspondence from City of York Council Appendix C - Mapping of Fulford & Heslington and Halifax College Appendix D – New Further Draft Recommendations Report and Mapping For decision The Commission is invited to: formally agree to issue a set of further draft recommendations for the City of York Council

Background

1. At its meeting on 12 November 2013, the Commission agreed its final recommendations for the City of York electoral review.

2. The Commission recommended one change to its draft recommendations, which was to transfer the University of York campuses from a single-member Fulford & Heslington ward to a three-member Hull Road ward. After the publication of the final recommendations, the York Liberal Democrats raised the concern that not all of the University campus was transferred to the proposed Hull Road ward based on the mapping provided. The implication of this would be an electoral variance for the proposed Fulford & Heslington ward of 33% by 2018, rather than 10%, as outlined in the final recommendations report.

3. The team contacted the Council on 5 December 2013 regarding the polling district mapping it supplied and requested clarification as to its accuracy. In response, the lead officer for the review has acknowledged there is an error with the polling district mapping supplied to the Commission. The Director of Reviews wrote to the Chief Executive of the Council to confirm the error with the polling district mapping for Halifax College and to seek assurances that there are no other inconsistencies between the electoral register and polling district mapping supplied to the Commission by the Council.

1 4. The contact at the Council has indicated that the authority intends to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR) of Heslington parish to remove the University of York from Heslington parish, into the unparished area of the city. This would trigger a request for a related alteration of the electoral ward boundary between Fulford & Heslington and Hull Road wards.

General Analysis

5. The final recommendations were based on a combination of proposals by the York Labour Party, York Outer Liberal Democrats, and York Green Party. The recommendations were that the Council should have 47 members comprising a pattern of five single-member, six two-member and 10 three-member wards. All wards would have electoral variances of less than 10% by 2018.

6. After publication of the final recommendations, the team received two responses from Justin Long (Liberal Democrat – Political Assistant) who queried the final recommendations mapping for Fulford & Heslington and Hull Road wards. He stated that the Halifax College area of the University of York appeared to have been placed in Fulford & Heslington ward. However the students are not part of the polling district which forms Fulford & Heslington ward, but vote with the rest of the University in the polling district which forms part of Hull Road ward. He further stated that the mapping did not correlate with the electorate figures accompanying the report which show the college in Hull Road ward.

7. The team was contacted by the Council on 27 November 2013. The Council also queried the issue of Halifax College in Fulford & Heslington ward and suggested an alteration to the ward boundary to include the college in Hull Road ward. The team responded to the Council stating that, now the final recommendations had been published, it was not possible to amend the electoral ward boundary between Fulford & Heslington and Hull Road wards. The Council indicated in its response that it would be undertaking a CGR of Heslington parish with the expectation that Heslington parish would lose the University of York. This could, if a CGR was undertaken and agreed by the Council, and a related alteration submitted to the Commission, resolve the issue.

8. The team also received correspondence from Councillor Keith Aspden (Liberal Democrat – Fulford ward) who raised the same issue as Justin Long and the Council. Councillor Aspden stated that leaving Halifax College in Fulford & Heslington ward would result in a variance of over 30% more electors than the average for York by 2018. Furthermore, Hull Road ward would also see a reduction to 5% fewer electors than the average for York by 2018.

9. On 5 December 2013, the team audited the York electoral register to see which polling district Halifax College is listed in. We requested clarification as to the accuracy of polling district mapping supplied by the Council at the beginning of the review. In reply to our request, the Council confirmed that there was an error with the polling district mapping it had supplied the Commission. The team is now aware that Halifax College was transferred from the polling district

2 which forms part of Fulford & Heslington ward when the electoral register was compiled in 2012. However, the authority failed to update its polling district mapping which shows Halifax College and adjoining roads still within Fulford & Heslington. (See Appendix C).

10. The issue involving Halifax College was referred to the Commission at its meeting on 10 December 2013. The Commission decided that it would delay the laying of the York (Electoral Changes) Order 2014 and that the Director of Reviews would write to the Chief Executive to seek clarity on this issue.

11. On 12 December 2013, the Director of Reviews wrote to the Chief Executive of City of York Council to confirm the error with the polling district mapping and confirm that there were no other inconsistencies between the electoral register and the polling district mapping supplied by the Council.

12. The Chief Executive replied on 7 January 2014 to confirm that there was an error in the Council’s polling district mapping supplied to the Commission at the beginning of the review and that officers had audited the mapping for the whole authority to ensure there were no further inconsistencies (See Appendix A).

13. Should the Commission decide to reissue a fresh set of draft recommendations, it is essential that the proposed Hull Road ward encompasses the entirety of the University campus. To this end, the Director of Reviews has responded to the Chief Executive’s letter with a map of the revised boundary asking for an assurance that all the University Campus has been included in the proposed ward. The team will update the Commission at the meeting with the Chief Executive’s response.

Review Process

14. The team has examined whether it would have been possible for the error in the authority’s polling district mapping data to have been picked up internally. It has been long-standing practice that the Commission generally relies on the accuracy of such data provided by an authority for the purposes of an electoral review. The team estimates that to audit the entire authority’s polling district mapping against the electoral register for an authority the size of York would have taken an extra working week to complete. The team will explore ways in which this could be done in alternative and more efficient ways and will report back to the Commission in due course.

Conclusion

15. Due to the inconsistencies between the electoral register and polling district mapping supplied by the Council at the start of the review, the final recommendations would result in a 33% electoral variance in Fulford & Heslington ward. It is important to stress that the Commission does not have the power under legislation to amend its final recommendations once published. Nor is it simply a matter of revoking the original final recommendations and publishing a new set. Legal advice is that the statutory

3 review process must be restarted with the publication of further draft recommendations. There are therefore two options open to the Commission.

(a) Let the final recommendations stand and lay a draft Order in parliament that reflects this. Subsequently make a related alternation based on the CGR that the Council intend to conduct which would resolve this variance. The team is of the view that it would not be appropriate for the Commission to lay a draft Order in Parliament providing for a ward that would normally trigger its intervention criteria. Secondly, this strategy would be reliant on the Council undertaking the CGR which would be subject to consultation, and the authority subsequently requesting a related alteration. The team is of the view that there are too many uncertainties in this strategy and does not propose the Commission follow this course of action.

(b) The Commission recommences a review of the authority with a new set of draft recommendations, identical to those agreed in the previous final recommendations, subject to a revision to the ward boundaries in the Halifax College area. There would then follow an 8 week period of consultation following which the Commission could agree final recommendations. This could be accomplished within six months. Given that the new electoral arrangements are not due to come into effect until elections in May 2015, this would allow sufficient time for a draft Order to be laid in Parliament. Should the Commission chose to follow this course of action, the team propose that the Commission adopt the amended ward boundary as outlined in Appendix C.

The team strongly recommends option B. Option A is not in the Commission’s gift and is dependent on actions the Council may or may not take.

The Commission may be tempted to restart the review from scratch with an analysis of council size. However, it should be noted that, in endorsing the final recommendations in October 2013, the Commission also effectively reconfirmed its view on council size. There is no evidence that the working practices and structure of the authority have changed to an extent that would justify reconsidering council size. The Commission would also need to consider the reputational impact, as well as the cost to both the Commission and the authority of starting the review again from the council size stage. Furthermore, to do this would mean it highly unlikely that a review could be completed in time for implementation at the Council’s next elections in 2015. (The authority elects as a whole, every four years. The following election does not take place until 2019).

4 Recommendation

16. The Commission is invited to formally agree to issue a new set of draft recommendations for York on the terms outlined in paragraph 15 (b).

Equalities

17. This report has been screened for impact on equalities; with due regard being given to the general equalities duties as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. As no potential negative impacts were identified, a full equality impact analysis is not required.

Alex Hinds Richard Buck The Local Government Boundary Commission for England January 2014

5 Electoral data Check your data 2012 2019 Number of councillors: 47 47 Using this sheet: Overall electorate: 155,308 164,910 Fill in the cells for each polling district. Please make sure that the names of each parish, parish ward 155,308 164,910 and unitary ward are correct and consistant. Check your data in the cells to the right. Average electorate per cllr: 3,304 3,509

Polling Electorate Electorate Number of Description of area Parish Parish ward Unitary ward Name of unitary ward E 2012 V 2012 E 2019 V 2019 district 2012 2019 cllrs per ward

AA Acomb 1532 2070 Acomb 2 6,875 3,438 4% 7,538 3,769 7% AB Acomb 1567 1656 Bishopthorpe 1 3,295 3,295 0% 3,308 3,308 -6% AC Acomb 2164 2189 Clifton 2 7,200 3,600 9% 7,456 3,728 6% AD Acomb 1404 1415 Copmanthorpe 1 3,416 3,416 3% 3,425 3,425 -2% BA Guildhall 2038 2641 Dringhouses & Woodthorpe 3 9,054 3,018 -9% 9,545 3,182 -9% BA Heworth 561 561 Fishergate 2 6,807 3,404 3% 7,698 3,849 10% BB Clifton 1237 1250 Fulford & Heslington 1 3,447 3,447 4% 4,020 4,020 15% BC Clifton 1753 1850 Guildhall 3 10,005 3,335 1% 11,488 3,829 9% BD Clifton 1392 1410 Haxby & Wigginton 3 10,059 3,353 1% 10,122 3,374 -4% BE Clifton 1061 1159 Heworth 3 10,159 3,386 2% 11,542 3,847 10% BE Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 307 307 Heworth Without 1 3,538 3,538 7% 3,574 3,574 2% BF Clifton 1757 1787 Holgate 3 9,708 3,236 -2% 10,306 3,435 -2% CA Dringhouses & Woodthorpe 3084 3537 Hull Road 3 10,336 3,445 4% 10,514 3,505 0% CB Dringhouses & Woodthorpe 1990 2004 Huntington & New Earswick 3 10,104 3,368 2% 10,196 3,399 -3% CC Dringhouses & Woodthorpe 1620 1633 Micklegate 3 9,700 3,233 -2% 10,710 3,570 2% CD Dringhouses & Woodthorpe 2360 2371 Osbaldwick & Derwent 2 5,815 2,908 -12% 6,628 3,314 -6% DA Fishergate 2418 2917 Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 3 9,448 3,149 -5% 9,838 3,279 -7% DB Fishergate 2329 2703 Rural West York 2 6,296 3,148 -5% 6,462 3,231 -8% DC Fishergate 2060 2078 Strensall 2 6,315 3,158 -4% 6,516 3,258 -7% DC Fulford & Heslington 393 393 Westfield 3 10,453 3,484 5% 10,718 3,573 2% EA Guildhall 1635 1651 Wheldrake 1 3,278 3,278 -1% 3,306 3,306 -6% EB Guildhall 1461 1515 EC Guildhall 684 879 ED Guildhall 1041 1465 0 EE Guildhall 1830 2007 FA Heworth 902 923 FB Heworth 1085 2005 FC Heworth 1446 1459 0 FC Heworth 150 150 0 FD Heworth 1441 1454 0 FE Heworth 2611 2972 0 FE Guildhall 327 327 0 FF Heworth 651 690 FF Heworth Without 344 350 FG Heworth 1312 1328 GA Holgate 2412 2557 GA Acomb 208 208 GB Holgate 2174 2195 GC Holgate 2010 2042 GD Holgate 876 899 GE Holgate 2236 2613 0 HA Hull Road 401 401 0 HA Guildhall 744 758 0 HA Guildhall 245 245 0 HB Hull Road -245 -245 HB Hull Road 1882 2000 0 HC Hull Road 2268 2284 0 HD Hull Road 1307 1325 0 HE Hull Road 1396 1407 0 JA Micklegate 1609 1777 0 JB Micklegate 1649 1696 0 JC Micklegate 1116 1175 0 JD Micklegate 2667 2678 0 JE Micklegate 2659 3384 0 KA Westfield 1367 1378 0 KB Westfield 1955 2155 0 KC Westfield 627 643 0 KD Westfield 1852 1866 0 KE Westfield 1574 1587 0 KF Westfield 3078 3089 0 YAA Acaster Malbis Bishopthorpe 625 629 0 YAB Bishopthorpe Bishopthorpe 2670 2679 0 YBA Holtby Osbaldwick & Derwent 137 137 0 YBB Dunnington Osbaldwick & Derwent 2689 2694 0 YBC Kexby Osbaldwick & Derwent 189 193 0 YCA Fulford Fulford & Heslington 2210 2765 0 YDA Wigginton Haxby & Wigginton 3033 3072 0 YDB Haxby Parish North Ward Haxby & Wigginton 1493 1495 0 YDC Haxby Parish East Ward Haxby & Wigginton 2135 2148 0 YDD Haxby Parish Central Ward Haxby & Wigginton 1791 1798 0 YDE Haxby Parish South West Ward Haxby & Wigginton 1607 1609 0 YEA Heslington Fulford & Heslington 670 688 0 YEA (part) Hull Road 19 19 0 YEB Heslington Hull Road 2808 2821 0 YEB (part) Fulford & Heslington 174 174 0 YEC Heslington Hull Road500 502 0 YFA Heworth Without 1296 1312 0 YFB Heworth Without Heworth Without 1898 1912 0 YGA Huntington Parish Huntington & New Earswick 2625 2664 0 YGB Huntington Parish Huntington & New Earswick 1696 1712 0 YGC Huntington Parish Huntington & New Earswick 3594 3626 0 YGD New Earswick Huntington & New Earswick 2189 2194 0 YHA Osbaldwick Osbaldwick & Derwent 2307 3107 0 YHB Murton Osbaldwick & Derwent 493 497 0 YJA Copmanthorpe Copmanthorpe Copmanthorpe 3416 3425 0 YJB Askham Bryan Rural West York 459 459 0 YJC Askham Richard Rural West York 164 164 0 YJD Rufforth Parish Knapton Ward Rural West York 333 333 0 YJE Rufforth Parish Rufforth Ward Rural West York 501 508 0 YJF Hessay Rural West York 201 201 0 YJG Upper Poppleton Rural West York 1675 1693 0 YJH Nether Poppleton Rural West York 1727 1863 0 YKA Skelton Rural West York 1236 1241 0 YKB Rawcliffe Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 1908 1921 0 YKC Rawcliffe Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 3124 3135 0 YKD Clifton Without Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 1630 1982 0 YKE Clifton Without Rawcliffe & Clifton Without 2479 2493 0 YLA Stockton on the Forest Strensall 1034 1047 0 YLB Earswick Strensall 709 718 0 YLC Strensall with Towthorpe Strensall 1525 1538 0 YLD Strensall with Towthorpe Strensall 3047 3213 0 YMA Naburn Wheldrake 395 406 0 YMB Deighton Wheldrake 243 243 0 YMC Wheldrake Wheldrake 1688 1701 0 YMD Elvington Wheldrake 952 956 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0