AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING of the COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF GOSPORT was held in the Council Chamber at the TOWN HALL, GOSPORT on TUESDAY, the TWELFTH day of FEBRUARY 2002 at 5.00 PM.
The Mayor (Councillor Wright) (P) (in the Chair);
The Deputy Mayor (Councillor King) (P);
Councillors Allen (P), Mrs Angus (P), Bartlett (P), Mrs Batterbury (P), Mrs Binfield (P), Mrs Bloodworth (P), Burgess (P), Mrs Cully (P), Cully (P), Edgar (P), Edwards, Farr (P), Gibson (P), Gill (P), Hayward (P), Hook (P), Kimber (P), Langdon (P), Philpott (P), Redrup (P), Rigg (P), Russell (P), Mrs Salter (P), Mrs Searle (P), Smith (P), Taylor (P), Train (P) and Mrs Wright (P)
Also in attendance: Honorary Aldermen Mrs Bailey and Foster.
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APOLOGIES
Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillor Edwards and Honorary Aldermen O'Neill and Searle.
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ONE MINUTE'S SILENCE
In order to express their sympathy regarding the recent bereavement of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Members of the Council stood in silent tribute for one minute.
At the conclusion of the one-minute's silence The Mayor reported that he would write to Her Majesty The Queen expressing the Council's condolences.
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MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS
(A) CIVIC DAY BAND CONCERT (8 MARCH 2002)
The Mayor reported that tickets were still available for the above event at the Thorngate Halls on Friday, 8 March 2002.
STANDING ORDER 4.15.1
The Borough Secretary reported that notice had been received requesting that Standing Order 4.15.1 be moved to enable him to present the report in connection with the New Electoral Arrangements – Polling Districts.
RESOLVED: That Standing Order 4.15.1 be moved to enable the Borough Secretary to present the report in connection with the New Electoral Arrangements – Polling Districts.
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NEW ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS - POLLING DISTRICTS
The Borough Secretary reported that the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions had made an Order under the Local Government Act 1972 implementing the revised recommendations of the Local Government Commission for the Council's electoral arrangements. The effect of this Order was to bring into effect a revised electoral structure dividing the Borough into 17 Wards with 2 Councillors per Ward with effect from May this year.
This report therefore brought before the Council proposals for the division of the Wards into Polling Districts and proposals for the allocation of polling places within those Districts.
In this respect the Borough Secretary wished to inform the Council of the hard work that the Head of Electoral Services had put into this exercise jointly with him and this was duly acknowledged by the Council.
Appendix "C1" to the report set out proposed allocations of polling districts and polling places within the Wards. These allocations had been prepared having regard, as far as possible, to:-
· Retaining existing polling places that electors had become used to;
· Securing an equal number of electors per polling station;
· Ensuring that the polling place was located at the nearest and most convenient point to the majority of addresses in the polling district;
· Use of buildings which gave best means of access to all electors.
The allocation of polling districts needed to be made by the Council in time for arrangements for the election in May to be commenced, and a revised Register of Electors, which showed the new polling districts and polling places, needed to be published by not later than 1 March. The allocation of polling places within the polling districts was the Borough Secretary's responsibility as Returning Officer, the intended allocation was as shown on the attached sheets.
Details of the proposed allocations had been circulated to all Political Groups represented on the Borough Council for consideration.
It was accepted that there may be some views about the way in which polling districts were divided within the Wards. However, the Council had the power to review the allocation of polling places, and in view of the need to implement the new electoral arrangements in May, and for any arrangements to be tried in practice, he was recommending that the new arrangements were put in place for the purpose of these elections and reviewed afterwards in time for any agreed alterations to be introduced prior to elections in 2003.
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FROM |
DISTRICT |
REQUEST |
ACTION
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Cllr Kimber |
Lee East – Polling Districts (2) and (3) |
Both districts to use Lee Community Association for elections after 2002 |
Noted. This was already proposed. |
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Cllr Farr |
Forton Ward |
Gladstone Road - currently in area (1). Place in area (2) as the road is alongside the polling station for that area
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Agreed. |
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Cllrs Mrs Searle and Cully |
Forton Ward |
Area (3) had been allocated the Salvation Army Hall as a polling station. Area (1) had been allocated the Baptist Church in Netherton Road. It was felt more appropriate for ALL polling districts in this ward to be allocated Brockhurst Junior School for their polling stations. |
Agreed to allocate Brockhurst Junior School to all polling districts in the Forton Ward. The school would be closed for the day and be able to accommodate three polling stations.
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Cllr Russell |
Brockhurst Ward |
Ford Road. Should be in area (3) instead of area (1) |
Agreed.
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Cllr Philpott |
Grange Ward |
A large part of area (1) should have Grange Junior School as its polling station.
|
No action – leave as is. |
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Cllr Cully |
Town Ward |
Area (2) (or part of it) could have the Red Cross Centre in the Anchorage as its polling station, instead of Haselworth School.
|
Consider after the elections in May 2002 as part of the review. |
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FROM |
DISTRICT |
REQUEST |
ACTION
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Cllr King |
Privett Ward |
Area (1) – should change the polling station (St Mary's RC School, Norman Road) which is not in the same ward.
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Consider after the elections in May 2002 as part of the review. |
MOTION:
(i) That pursuant to Section 31 (1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Council divide the electoral wards of the Borough in force from May 2002 into polling districts in accordance with the terms of the list appended to this Report;
(ii) That the Council note the arrangements made for the provision of polling places;
(iii) That the Council consider the need to keep the allocation of polling districts and polling places under review.
AMENDMENT: That the words "and that Forton 1 & 3 Polling Stations be Brockhurst County Junior School, Avery Lane, Gosport" be added after the words "polling places" in Recommendation (ii) above.
The Amendment was put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.
SECOND AMENDMENT: That a Recommendation (iv) be added in the following terms " That the Council investigate changing to a system of "Whole Council" Elections every four years."
The Second Amendment was put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.
The Substantive Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.
The Council rose at 5.46 pm.
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