THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA STIRLING COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE 14 SEPTEMBER 2006 NOT EXEMPT REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES 1 PURPOSE 1.1 To seek approval of the polling districts and polling places detailed in Appendix 1 to the report. 2 SUMMARY 2.1 The Local Government elections in May 2007 will be conducted on the basis of new multi-member wards. On 28 April 2005 the Council considered the Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals for the division of the Stirling Local Government Area into 7 multi-member wards as part of its statutory review of election boundaries. The Council agreed with the Boundary Commission’s proposals subject to a few minor amendments put forward on the basis of local knowledge. Following a lengthy consultation process the Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 was approved by the Scottish Ministers and came into force on 14 July 2006. 2.2 The Council is required to designate polling districts and polling places for each parliamentary constituency or part thereof situated in the Council’s area and for the wards within each Council area. The new polling districts and polling places need to be confirmed to allow the register of electors to be prepared and published for the combined election next year. 2.3 In formulating the proposals for polling districts and polling places, Officers have tried to provide all electors with reasonable and practicable facilities for voting. The Council is asked to approve the proposed polling districts and polling places, which will form the polling scheme for the Local Government Area. Copies of the maps showing the electoral wards and proposed polling districts are on display in the Members’ Lounge. 3 RECOMMENDATION(S) 3.1 To approve the proposed polling districts and polling places detailed in Appendix 1. 3.2 To delegate authority to the Returning Officer to approve any minor alterations or adjustments to polling places where privately owned or grant aided premises prove to be unavailable or where otherwise necessary in the interests of the efficient conduct of elections. 4 CONSIDERATIONS 4.1 The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 made provision for the establishment of multi-member wards and introduced a proportional Single Transferable Vote system of election for local government. The Act also required that the Local Government Boundary Commission undertake a review of electoral arrangements for all council areas. The Boundary Commission submitted its final report to the Scottish Ministers on 9 March recommending the division of the Stirling Council area into 7 wards for the election of Councillors. The Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 which came into force on 14 July 2006 put in place the following electoral wards for the Local Government elections in May 2007:- Ward 1 (Trossachs and Teith) – 3 Councillors to be elected Ward 2 (Forth and Endrick) - 3 Councillors to be elected Ward 3 (Dunblane and Bridge of Allan) - 4 Councillors to be elected Ward 4 (Castle) – 3 Councillors to be elected Ward 5 (Stirling West) - 3 Councillors to be elected Ward 6 (Stirling East) - 3 Councillors to be elected Ward 7 (Bannockburn) – 3 Councillors to be elected 4.2 Polling Districts – The Local Authority has a duty to divide its area into polling districts with a view to giving all electors in the area such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances. In drafting the proposed polling districts Officers have attempted to minimise changes for electors. 4.3 Although the Westminster constituency boundary (Stirling County) is coterminous with the Stirling Local Government boundary, the Scottish Parliament constituency (Stirling) boundary cuts across four of the new multi- member wards. This affects wards 3, 4, 6 and 7. In some areas this has resulted in very small polling districts having to be created with very few electors. Copies of the maps showing the electoral wards and proposed polling districts are on display in the Members’ Lounge. 4.4 GIS are currently digitising the proposed polling district boundaries. Officers from Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Council will agree a naming convention for the polling districts to ensure consistency in the electoral register. Once this has been finalised the polling districts in the Stirling Council area will be re-named accordingly. 4.5 Polling Places – Election legislation defines a polling place as a geographical area within a polling district although in practice the term is usually applied to the building in which voting takes place and the immediate surrounding area e.g. school playground. A polling place should normally be situated within the polling district for which it is designated but, in some circumstances, for example where no suitable premises can be found, the polling place may be designated outside of the polling district. 4.6 In designating polling places, the Council must have regard to the convenience of the electors voting and, in particular, should ensure that the polling place is as accessible as it can be for electors with disabilities. 4.7 In preparing the list of proposed polling places Officers have looked at the following key issues:- accessibility to the polling place and polling stations, particularly for those N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\REPORTS\SC20060914REVIEWOFPOLLINGDISTRICTSANDPOLLINGPLACES.DOC electors with mobility difficulties; distance to travel to vote; adequacy of the parking facilities; minimising the use of primary schools where possible and the associated disruption caused to education. 4.8 It has not always been possible to identify suitable premises for use as polling places within each polling district. As a result, the proposed polling scheme attached as Appendix 1 includes the use of some premises which are located close to ward boundaries and lend themselves for use by electors in more than one polling district. 4.9 The Appendix includes proposals to use a number of privately owned or grant aided premises as designated polling places. Preliminary contact has been made with the owners and occupiers regarding the use of the premises at election time. It is recommended that the Returning Officer should have delegated authority to approve changes in the designation of polling places where the privately owned or grant aided premises prove to be unavailable or where otherwise necessary in the interests of the efficient conduct of the election. 4.10 All Elected Members and Community Councils were invited to submit comments/suggestions on premises suitable for use as polling places. The comments received are outlined in the Appendix. 4.11 The proposed changes in polling places can be summarised as follows:- Blairdrummond Village Hall (new hall) to be used instead of Kincardine-in- Menteith Primary School; Brig O’Turk Village Hall (recently refurbished) to be used instead of Trossachs Primary School; Fintry Hall (refurbishment nearing completion) to be used instead of Fintry Primary School; Killearn Church Hall (modern extension to Church) to be used instead of Killearn Primary School; Edmonstone Hall to be used instead of Strathblane Primary School; Dunblane Centre to be used instead of Dunblane Primary School (all electors who currently vote at the Primary School will now vote at the Dunblane Centre – all other electors in Dunblane will continue to vote at Victoria Hall); Old Viewforth will no longer be a polling place – electors will now use St Ninians Primary School N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\REPORTS\SC20060914REVIEWOFPOLLINGDISTRICTSANDPOLLINGPLACES.DOC 5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The process of reviewing polling districts and polling places is in line with the Council’s strategic aims of promoting local democracy and community leadership. 6 CONSULTATIONS 6.1 Elected Members and Community Councils. 7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Staffing resources required in conducting the review of polling districts and polling places have been accommodated within existing staff allocations. 8 BACKGROUND PAPERS 8.1 Minutes – Special Council, 29 April 2005 The Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 Responses from Community Councils Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension Joyce Allen Committee Officer 3370 Paul McNamara Research Officer 2724 Approved by Name Designation Signature Keith Yates Returning Officer Date 21 August 2006 Reference N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\REPORTS\SC20060914REVIEWOFPOLLINGDISTRICTSANDPOLLINGPLACES.DOC Appendix 1 New Electoral New Current Polling Place Comments Received Officer Ward Polling In the area Recommendation District Ward 1 (Trossachs and S1/1 Callander Primary School Callander Community Council – Callander Primary Teith) In favour of continued use (good School parking, central location and disabled access) S2/1 Strathyre Village Hall No comments received Strathyre Village Hall S3/1 Lochearnhead Village Hall No comments received Lochearnhead Village Hall McLaren Hall, Killin Killin Community Council – Hall S4/1 has ample parking and disabled Mclaren Hall, Killin access S5/1 Balquhidder Village Hall Balquhidder Community Council – Balquhidder Village Hall Village Hall is acceptable Crianlarich Village Hall S6/1 Crianlarich Village Hall Strathfillan Community Council – Village Hall is satisfactory Doune Primary School S7/1 Doune Primary School Kilmadock Community Council – School is the most suitable location S8/1 Deanston Primary School Kilmadock Community Council – Deanston Primary School is the most suitable School location N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\REPORTS\SC20060914REVIEWOFPOLLINGDISTRICTSANDPOLLINGPLACES.DOC