Swindon Borough Electoral Review Stratton St Margaret Parish Council May 2011 STRATTON ST MARGARET PARISH COUNCIL FORMAL RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEW ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SWINDON BOROUGH COUNCIL 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The following document contains the formal response to the draft recommendations on the new electoral arrangements for Swindon Borough Council published in March 2011 from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council 1.2 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council currently represents approximately 22,000 residents in the existing Borough Wards of St Philip’s, St Margaret’s and Covingham and Nythe and an existing electorate of approximately 18,500. 2. COUNCIL SIZE 2.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council originally proposed a reduction of two members from 59 to 57 based on 19 three councillor wards. 2.2 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to express its concerns that there was no flexibility regarding the size of the wards proposed and would have suggested that instead of sticking rigidly to three member wards consideration should have been given to creating two member wards. This would have enabled communities to be better reflected and represented. 2.3 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council urges the Boundary Commission to reconsider reducing the number of members and give due consideration to creating a 20th ward of 3 members so increasing the current members of Swindon borough Council from 59 to 60. This will enable the review a much greater ability to reflect communities within ward boundaries and meet the needs of the future development of Swindon. The current draft Core Strategy is proposing an additional 19,000 households which will create an increase in population of at least another 30,000 by 2026. 2.4 The current draft recommendations appear to have given little consideration to community cohesion which is of concern to Stratton St Margaret Parish Council. This is especially reflected in the areas covered by the Parish Council. The recommendations appear to have struggled to reflect community identity and reduce member numbers and the result is an unfortunate compromise that may well be damaging to some of the most needy areas within the Borough. 2.5 Of major concern to Stratton St Margaret Parish Council is the loss of the two members in the current wards of Gorsehill & Pinehurst and Penhill. Both areas Page 1 of 4 Swindon Borough Electoral Review Stratton St Margaret Parish Council May 2011 are areas of high deprivation and have significant social issues. To propose a reduction of two elected representatives in two of the most deprived communities within the Borough is both concerning and unacceptable. 2.6 Although the Commission acknowledges that the reality of achieving absolute fairness is unlikely the current proposals are a significant distance away from achieving a level of fairness that is acceptable especially to those communities where ward councillors play an important role in helping to address the needs of the local residents, many of whom have never voted. Those communities which have a high level of depravation should have a lower councillor/electorate ratio than in those areas less affected. Therefore Stratton St Margaret Parish Council would challenge the comment in paragraph 32. 2.7 Of major concern is the effect the proposed Ward Boundary changes will have on the current Swindon Borough Council “clusters”, part of the Connecting People, Connecting Places initiative. The clusters also form an integral part of the Swindon Core Strategy document. 2.8 Therefore, prior to any formal adoption of boundary changes Stratton St Margaret Parish Council urges the Commission to satisfy itself that the electorate within the new Ward Boundaries will not be adversely affected by the adopted proposals. 2.9 Finally, although the Commission asserts that it has achieved fairness in the numbers within its proposals Stratton St Margaret Parish Council maintains that this will not be the case as the proposed boundaries have neglected to recognise existing communities. 3. RURAL SWINDON 3.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council agrees with the proposal to create a three member Blunsdon and Highworth Ward but would suggest that the boundaries be reviewed further to include the village of South Marston. 3.2 It is currently recommended that South Marston links in with St Margaret Ward creating a St Margaret and South Marston Ward. Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to point out that the demographic in South Marston bears no resemblance to the demographic in St Margaret whereas the demographic of Highworth reflects far more accurately the demographic of South Marston. 3.3 South Marston is a village that is identified for significant growth within the core strategy. Its identity will be watered down and unrepresented by being connected with the St Margaret Ward. 3.4 In addition, the desire of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council for the ward boundaries to reflect the parish boundaries will in no way be achieved with the recommended configuration of this ward unless it is to be recommended that South Marston Parish Council becomes part of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, an option which would create objections from both parishes. Page 2 of 4 Swindon Borough Electoral Review Stratton St Margaret Parish Council May 2011 4. CENTRAL AND SOUTH AREA OF SWINDON TOWN 4.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to support the proposals contained in paragraph 54. 5. NORTH AREA OF SWINDON TOWN 5.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to request that the Commission reviews it observations contained in paragraph 72 which suggests that significant amendments would be required to reflect the Parish Council’s original proposals especially bearing in mind the significant changes recommended in neighbouring wards. 5.2 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council has a legal duty to consider the implications of the ward boundaries and how they will affect local residents. Currently nine ward councillors have all or part of their wards within the parish. The proposals put forward by the Commission will retain that level of ward councillor but increase the areas outside the parish that the ward councillors will be responsible for. This will undermine the parish council, creating confusion, undermine community focus and identity and present a range of challenges which could well be avoided if the recommendations were less extreme. 5.3 The proposals reflect the need to meet the percentage figures and take no account of local communities and their needs. The need to engage with the electorate and encourage them to take part in the democratic process through elections and community engagement will be undermined by the Commission’s recommendations. 5.4 For the reasons stated in paragraph 5.3 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council registers its formal objection to the proposal to create a St Margaret and South Marston Ward and the proposed boundary change for the new Upper Stratton Ward to include part of Gorsehill, a community effectively cut off from the rest of Stratton St Margaret by the Cirencester Way. 5.5 The recommendations split the community of Gorsehill up into three sections. This will have a negative effect of community identity and create both confusion and resentment among the local people especially at election time. 5.6 Therefore Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to register it formal objection to the proposed ward boundary change 6. PARISH ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS 6.1 In response to paragraph 84 and the draft recommendations for Stratton St Margaret Parish Council the Council welcomes and supports the retention of 23 councillors. Page 3 of 4 Swindon Borough Electoral Review Stratton St Margaret Parish Council May 2011 6.2 In response to paragraph 84 and the draft recommendations Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to register its formal objection to the following parish boundary recommendations: The retention of the parish boundary along the west side of the Upper Stratton Ward without amendment as previously requested. Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to request that the Boundary Commission review its recommendations and proposes that the parish boundary be amended to include the entire area of the Upper Stratton Ward excluding the Gorse Hill area 6.2 In response to paragraph 84 and the draft recommendations Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to register its formal support to the following parish boundary recommendations: The redrawing of the parish boundary to the north of the Upper Stratton Ward along the A419 and down the Cricklade Road The redrawn boundary separating the Upper Stratton Ward and the St Margaret and South Marston Ward 7. GENERAL COMMENTS 7.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council challenges the current recommendations to fundamentally alter the communities of Gorsehill, Pinehurst, Penhill and Haydon Wick and requests that the Boundary Commission reconsiders its proposals and amends the ward boundaries to properly reflect the communities they are meant to represent. 7.2 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wishes to express special concerns regarding the Haydon Wick boundary not following the Whitworth Road 8. CONCLUSION 8.1 Stratton St Margaret Parish Council proposes that the Boundary Commission reviews the areas highlighted within this response and considers making the following changes to the recommended boundaries: St Margaret & South Marston South Marston be amalgamated with the proposed Blunsdon and Highworth Ward and not with the St Margaret Ward St Margaret Ward boundary be retained to the west as recommended but to be amended to the East as per Stratton St Margaret Parish Council’s original proposal and to include the entire Honda UK manufacturing site within the Borough Ward and the Parish Boundary Upper Stratton The Ward boundary should be amended to exclude the area of Gorsehill and redrawn along Cirencester Way as originally proposed by Stratton St Margaret Parish Council.