Meeting documents

To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 January 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Governance & Electoral Arrangements Committee held on 27 January 2015 were agreed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the reasons to review the location of three polling places in light of lessons learnt from the combined Elections in 2015 and as a result of the implications of the Bucks County Boundary Review 2012; and also to review the location of one polling place in Seer Green ward that was no longer available to use in 2016 and future elections.

It was noted that as a result of any changes to polling place locations, in addition to electors receiving the information of the relevant polling station on their poll cards, notices would be displayed at previously used polling stations in the event that electors may attend the previous location.

Following consideration of the options for each polling place and the background information in respect of each polling place, as detailed in the report, the Committee

RESOLVED -

i)    That the following Polling Place be relocated for the reasons set out in the report:

·         Chesham Grammar School be relocated to White Hill Community Centre

ii)   That the following Polling Place venue be retained and not relocated due to lack of a satisfactory alternative location:

·         Methodist Church, Chesham

iii) That although the  implications of the Buckinghamshire County Electoral Review 2012 changes amalgamated the Little Kingshill and Little Missenden Parish wards to form one ward, a polling place will remain in each ward namely Little Kingshill Parish Hall for Little Kingshill and Little Missenden Village Hall for Little Missenden to minimise disruption for electors in each area of the ward; and

iv) That the following Polling Place be relocated for the reasons set out in the report:

·         Seer Green Parish Hall be relocated to Seer Green Scout Hall

The Chairman informed the Committee that he had asked the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to prepare a draft work programme for consideration by the Committee at a future meeting to progress a review of the Council’s Constitution.

The Head of Legal & Democratic Services reported that she had prepared a draft work programme and advised that a meeting should be held after the Police & Crime Commissioner Elections on 5 May 2016 to agree the scope and objectives of the review and to confirm the work programme.  It was noted that a harmonisation of Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council Constitutions would be undertaken where possible but two separate Constitutions would be retained for each Council.

RESOLVED -

i)     That a work programme to review the Council’s Constitution be finalised; and

ii)    That an additional date for a meeting of the Governance and Electoral Arrangements Committee, to agree the scope and objectives of the review, be scheduled and members advised accordingly.