Agenda and minutes

Mr A H T Bowles proposed and Mr G Lymer seconded that Mr A J King MBE be elected Vice-Chairman.  No other nominations were received.

RESOLVED that Mr A J King, MBE be elected Vice-Chairman of the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee

(1)       In relation to minute no 26 (6)(c) of the meeting held on 27 February 2013, the Chairman informed the Committee that information was being collated from the District Councils on the County Council elections and a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee. This report would also include the outcome of the review on the role of the County Returning Officer.

(2)       RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 27 February and 23 May 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(1)       The Democratic Services Manager (Council) introduced a report which provided information on the draft recommendations from the electoral review of Shepway District published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on 18 June which were the subject of a consultation which would close on 9 September 2013.  The recommendations would reduce the number of Councillors on Shepway District Council from 46 to 30 and the number of wards from 22 to 13.  A map illustrating the proposed wards and the current County Council electoral divisions was circulated at the meeting.

(2)       Mr Wild informed the Committee that a letter had been received from the LGBCE stating that that there would be a review of Kent County Council electoral divisions and the number of Members prior to the 2017 County Council elections. A report setting out further details of the proposed review would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

(3)       RESOLVED that consultation on the LGCBE draft recommendations for Shepway be noted.

(1)       The Democratic Services Manager (Council) introduced a report which informed the Committee of the current Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) consultation, which invited proposals for the number of Councillors who should sit on Canterbury City Council.  The Commission was initially consulting on reducing the number of Councillors from 50 to 38.  There would be a twelve week consultation from 24 September to 16 December 2013 on their recommendations and a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

(2)       The comments received from Mr M Harrison, as a local Member, were read out to the Committee.

(3)       RESOLVED that the initial proposal by the LGBCE to reduce the number of Councillors on Canterbury City Council from 50 to 38 be noted and consideration be given to responding to the public consultation at the next meeting of the Committee.