Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted apologies from Mr A Chell and Mr T Prater. It was noted that Mrs T Dean was substituting for Mr Prater.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

(1)               The report, by Mr G Gibbens, Chairman of the Boundary and Electoral Boundary Review and Mr G Wild, Director of Governance and Law, provided information on the final recommendations for the Tonbridge and Malling Electoral Boundary review which had been published by the Local Government Electoral Boundary Commission.

(2)               Comments from Leybourne Parish Council and West Malling Parish Council were tabled at the meeting.  

(3)               There was a discussion about whether to submit further representations to support the views of West Malling and Leybourne Parish Councils.

(4)               RESOLVED

(a)               To note the final recommendations for the Electoral and Boundary Review carried out in the Tonbridge and Malling Borough area.

(b)               To not make further representations to the Local Government Boundary Commission at this time.

(c)               To include the views of the relevant borough, district or city council and the views of local Kent County Council members in reports submitted to the Committee about boundary reviews.

(1)               The report, by Mr G Gibbens, Chairman of the Boundary and Electoral Boundary Review and Mr G Wild, Director of Governance and Law provided information on the final recommendations for the Swale Electoral Boundary review which had been published by the Local Government Electoral Boundary Commission.

(2)               RESOLVED to note the final recommendations for the Electoral and Boundary Review carried out in the Swale Borough area.

The report, by Mr Gibbens, Chairman of the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee and Mr Wild, Director of Governance and Law, provided further information on the current Shepway Electoral review following the consideration of the matter at its meeting on 2 August 2012.

RESOLVED: To note progress with the Electoral Review that will be carried out in the Shepway District Council area.

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Resolved:  That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely discussion of exempt items as defined in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED  that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(1)               The report, by Mr Gibbens, Chairman of the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee and Mr Wild, Director of Governance and Law,  informed the Committee of the outcomes of an external review into payments to the County Returning Officer.

(2)               RESOLVED: 

(a)               That Legal Services advise the County Council on the representations it could make to the Government in the forthcoming review of election law.

(b)               That the County Council’s representations to Government include the need for a clarification of the legal basis of remuneration of the Returning Officer in local elections.