THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM 8 ON THE AGENDA STIRLING COUNCIL CIVIC SERVICES 8 October 1998 NOT EXEMPT REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES 1 PURPOSE 1.1 To seek approval of the polling places and polling districts detailed in the polling scheme attached as Appendix 1. 2 SUMMARY 2.1 Stirling Council is required to divide its local government area into polling districts and to designate the polling places for those polling districts. On 5 March 1998 the Council considered the Boundary Commission’s proposals for the division of the Stirling Local Government Area into 22 electoral wards as part of the statutory review of electoral boundaries. The Commission has recently published its final recommendations for the Stirling Council area which are the subject of a separate report on the Agenda. 2.2 The Secretary of State has indicated that the Local Government elections and the elections to the Scottish Parliament will take place on 6 May 1999, with the local elections conducted on the basis of the new electoral wards. As a result, new polling districts and polling places for the new wards require to be confirmed to allow the 1999 draft register of electors to be prepared and subsequently published. 2.3 On 25 June 1998, the Council considered a report outlining the preliminary work undertaken by Officers in looking at the location, suitability and availability of premises within the new electoral wards which could serve as polling places. The proposed polling places were approved in principle to assist the process of drafting polling districts. The Council is now asked to approve the 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 the proposed polling districts are available in the Members’ Lounge. 3 RECOMMENDATION(S) 3.1 To approve for elections held in respect of the new wards the proposed polling districts and polling places detailed in the polling scheme attached as Appendix 1 to the report. 3.2 To delegate authority to the Director of Civic Services to agree any minor alterations or adjustments to polling districts or polling places required as a result of the finalisation of the new wards or in the interests of efficient conduct of elections. 4 CONSIDERATIONS Polling Districts 4.1 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. Each electoral area established for the purpose of Local Government Elections which is within the Parliamentary Constituency, and those areas which are partly within the constituency and partly within another constituency, must, in the absence of special circumstances be a separate polling district or districts. 4.2 The Parliamentary boundary cuts across a number of the proposed new wards. In some cases this has resulted in very small polling districts being created. In a couple of cases the Parliamentary constituency boundary overlaps with the ward boundary in a small geographical area which contains a few electors, or in some cases, no electors. Representations will be made to the Boundary Commission for minor changes in the ward boundaries to eliminate these anomalies. It is recommended that the Director of Civic Services should have delegated authority to agree minor alterations in the polling districts as required as a result of finalisation of the new wards. Polling Places 4.3 The relevant election regulations require that polling places:- • provide for all electors in the polling district such facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances; • so far as is reasonable and practicable, provide reasonable access to voters who are disabled or infirm. 4.4 In preparing the list of proposed polling places Officers looked at the following key issues:- • accessibility to the polling place and polling station(s) for able bodied electors and, in particular, those who are wheelchair users or have other mobility difficulties; • adequacy of the parking facilities; • convenience of the premises for all voters • minimising the use of primary schools where possible and the associated disruption caused to children’s education. 4.5 Officers have tried to ensure that wherever possible only premises with disabled access will be used as polling places. In addition, primary schools will only be used where suitable alternative venues are not as convenient as the school or do not provide as wide a range of the necessary facilities. 4.6 It has not always been possible to identify suitable premises for use as polling places within each polling district. As a result, the Appendix does include the use of some premises which are located close to the ward boundaries but lend themselves to use by voters in more than one polling district. 4.7 Members should be aware that the Appendix includes proposals to use a number of privately owned or grant aided premises as designated polling places. Contact has been made with the owners or occupiers of such premises to discuss the use of the premises. In a number of cases discussions are ongoing and no formal decision has been reached. It is therefore recommended that the Director of Civic Services 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 unsuitable, or where otherwise necessary in the interests of efficient conduct of the election. 4.8 It is recognised that in a small number of areas the only suitable premises available for use as polling places have steps at the entrance and in some cases within the actual polling stations. Officers will undertake to investigate the provision of temporary or permanent ramped access at such locations prior to the elections in May 1999. 5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The process of reviewing the polling districts and polling places is in line with the Council’s strategic aims of social inclusion and promoting local democracy. 6 CONSULTATIONS 6.1 All Elected Members and Community Councils were invited to submit comments/suggestions on premises suitable for use as polling places. 6.2 Officers also intend to consult with local disability groups about any potential access problems in relation to the proposed polling places and seek their advice and assistance in identifying solutions to improve access. 6.3 Contact will also be maintained with Officers from Clackmannanshire Council in relation to the arrangements for the polling districts and polling places located within the Ochil constituency. 7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Staffing resources required to conduct the review of polling places and polling districts have been provided within the existing staff allocations. There may be additional resource implications associated with the provision of temporary or permanent disabled access to some polling places. 8 BACKGROUND PAPERS 8.1 Local Government (Scotland) 1994. 8.2 Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements - Stirling Council - Report to the Secretary of State for Scotland dated 1998. Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension Joyce Allen Committee Officer 3370 Approved by Name Designation Signature Bob Jack Director of Civic Services Date Reference POLSTAT1.DOC POLLING SCHEME Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y Ward 1 - Bridge of Allan SAA S500 Ochil Allan Centre, Also used in Ward 3 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan SAQ S503 Stirling Allan Centre, Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan Ward 2 - Logie SBA S506 Ochil The Reading Room, Blairlogie SBB S509 Ochil Murray Hall, University of Stirling SBJ S512 Ochil Logie Church Hall, Also used in Ward 3 Alloa Road, Stirling SBP S515 Stirling Logie Church Hall, Alloa Road, Stirling Ward 3 - Wallace SCA S518 Ochil Allan Centre, Also used in Ward 1 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan SCC S521 Stirling Cornton Community Centre, Also used in Ward 4 Johnston Avenue, Cornton SCH S524 Stirling Logie Church Hall, Also used in Ward 2 Alloa Road, Stirling COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 2 - Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y Ward 4 - Raploch SDG S530 Stirling Ochil Centre Also used in Ward 3 Ochil Crescent Raploch Stirling SDK S533 Stirling St Mary’s RC Primary School, Access to polling station Raploch Road, needs to be looked at Raploch Ward 5 - Town Centre SEF S536 Stirling Albert Halls, Also used in Ward 7 Dumbarton Road, Stirling SEK S539 Stirling Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling Ward 6 - Argyll SFD S545 Stirling Cambuskenneth Village Hall Cambuskenneth SFH S548 Stirling Riverside Primary School, Access to the Polling Place Forrest Road, needs to be looked at Stirling SFT S551 Stirling Braehead Primary School, Springfield Road, Braehead COMMSERV\ELECTION\GENERAL\POLSTAT1 - 3 - Ward Polling Unit No Constituenc Polling Place Notes District y Ward 7 - King’s Park and SGC S554 Stirling Albert Halls, Also used in Ward 5 Cambusbarron Dumbarton Road, Stirling SGM S557 Stirling Cambusbarron Community Also used in Ward 8 Centre, Cambusbarron Ward 8 - Torbrex SHA S560 Stirling Cambusbarron Community Also used in Ward 7 Centre, Cambusbarron SHB S563 Stirling St Ninians Primary School, Also used in Ward 10 Torbrex Road, St Ninians SHC S566 Stirling Old Viewforth, Pitt Terrace, Stirling Ward 9 - Broomridge SIA S569 Stirling Mayfield Centre, Mayfield Street, St Ninians Ward 10 - Borestone SJA S572 Stirling St Ninians Primary School, Also used in Ward 8 Torbrex