Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor K Merrie, Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, presented the report and highlighted the process currently being undertaken as part of phase one of the review process.  As the recommendations within the report asked for a preference on the issue of single member wards, Councillor K Merrie moved the following:

1)       That the council size submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the future size of the Council as detailed at appendix three be approved.

2)        That the Local Government Boundary Commission for England be informed that Council’s preference is for the review to be conducted based on single member wards.

It was seconded by Councillor A Woodman.

Due to the separate issues of the two recommendations, Members agreed to debate and vote on each recommendation in turn.

The Chair opened the debate on recommendation one.

Councillor D Bigby referred Members to the additional papers in which summary information and an alternative recommendation for an increase in council size to 39 Councillors was provided as submitted by the Labour Group.  This explained the position of the Labour Group on the matter and the recommendation that would be proposed should the current motion be lost. 

A full discussion ensued in which Members spoke both in support and against the council size preferences as detailed within the report and additional papers. 

The Chair put recommendation one as moved and seconded to the vote.

The motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)       The council size submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the future size of the Council as detailed at appendix three be approved.

The Chair then opened the debate on recommendation two.

Several concerns in relation to single member wards were shared including the perceived split in communities due to boundary lines and less choice for the residents.  Some Members felt that the multi member ward approach meant that bigger areas were easier to manage with better support for each other with case work when needed.   However, some Members felt that single member wards were less confusing for residents and meant that a smaller ‘patch’ led to a better relationship with the community and more accountability for the individual Ward Member.  Further discussions ensued both in support and against single member wards.

The Chair put recommendation two as moved and seconded to the vote.

The motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

2)       The Local Government Boundary Commission for England be informed that Council’s preference is for the review to be conducted based on single member wards.