Archived decisions


	Hampshire County Council
	County Electoral Divisions Members Panel		Item 2
	20 November 2002
	Periodic Electoral Review of County Electoral Divisions
	Report of Chief Executive

Contact: David Hinxman , ext 7339

1 Summary

1.1 At its meeting in September the Council asked the three political Group Leaders, the Chairman of the Council, and Councillors Mrs. Allbright, Mrs. Barron, Mrs. Glasspool and Pierce to consider proposals for submission to the Boundary Committee for England for their consideration in relation to the Periodic Electoral Review of County Electoral Divisions which the Boundary Committee is undertaking. This report summarises the proposals following an initial review by the Leader of the Council and the two minority Group Leaders and the Chairman of the Council of suggestions put forward by Members and other views submitted to the Boundary committee and copied to the County Council.

1.2 The proposals would result in a net increase of 4 county electoral divisions (additional seats in Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Fareham, Test Valley and Winchester and a reduction in Havant); or 3 if there were no change in Basingstoke.

2. Background

2.1 As with their reviews of district wards, the primary objective of the Boundary Committee for England is to achieve, so far as practicable, equality of representation across the county as a whole. They also attach much importance to achieving coterminosity between the boundaries of county electoral divisions and district wards. They recognise, however, that this will not always be possible if the objective of electoral equality is to be achieved. They also have to have regard to the desirability of fixing boundaries which are and will remain easily identifiable and any local ties which would be broken by the fixing of any particular boundary.

2.2 The proposals outlined in this report take all these issues into account. In some areas options are put forward where situations are finely balanced.

2.3 The statistical basis for the proposals is the December 2001 electoral register. For December 2006, the County Council's own research data or verified district council data has been used. The county average electorate at December 2001 has been taken as the baseline figure within a framework of plus and minus 10% and the same considerations for the projected December 2006 electorate as follows:

	December 2001	December 2006
Average electorate	13034	13464
Plus 10%	14337	14810
Minus 10%	11731	12118

2.4 The Boundary Committee make it clear that an electoral imbalance of over 10% in any county electoral division will require justification. Any imbalance of 20% or over should only arise in exceptional circumstances and will require strong justification.

2.5 In some instances two options are recommended where it is considered that a case can be made for either. Options (a) and (b) do not reflect any priority, therefore.

3. Proposals for consideration

3.1 Basingstoke and Deane (to follow)

3.2 East Hampshire

There are currently 6 county electoral divisions in East Hampshire. Taking into account projections for 2006, however, there is a strong case for justifying 7 county electoral divisions. There are 2 options and it is proposed that both be submitted to the Electoral Commission. Each is centred on arrangements for the town of Alton. Option A links wards in the town with rural wards in 2 county electoral divisions whereas Option B contains Alton with Holybourne and part of Froyle. Both are coterminous with district council wards. Option A partly addresses the views of Beech Parish Council. Option B would meet their preference but raises issues as to managing a county electoral division which wholly surrounds the town of Alton. There is one solution proposed for the remaining 5 divisions and this is shown in Option A below. Whitehill would fall in one division, an issue in support of which representations were received from Whitehill Town Council.

3.3 In relation to Clanfield, the proposal reflects the proximity of Finchdean to Rowlands Castle.

Option A

	December'01	December'06
Catherington
Clanfield (part)	211	212
Catherington & Lovedean	1957	1945
Horndean Downs	1978	1971
Hazleton & Blendworth	1990	2037
Horndean Kings	2283	2302
Horndean Murray	1893	1930
Rowlands Castle	2159	2215
Total	12471	12612
Causeway
Clanfield (Part)	3532	3599
East Meon	1777	1760
Bell Hill	1736	1764
Causeway	1751	1855
Heath	1807	1851
St. Peters	1835	1771
Total	12438	12600
Downland
Alton Amery	1881	1945
Alton Westbrook	2095	2105
Alton Whitedown	1860	2033
Farringdon	1905	2194
Four Marks & Medstead	4281	4415
Total	12022	12692




Headley
Bramshott & Liphook	6140	6299
Grayshott	1932	1971
Headley	4343	4453
Total	12415	12723
Holybourne
Alton Ashdell	1842	1954
Alton Eastbrooke	1962	1943
Alton Wooteys	1892	1874
Binsted & Bentley	2153	2202
Holybourne & Froyle	2274	2328
Selborne	1781	1805
Total	11904	12106
Hangers
Froxfield & Steep	1905	1970
Liss	3885	3932
Rother	1772	1863
St. Marys	1757	2182
Ropley & Tisted	1759	1787
Hangers & Forest	1898	1972
Total	12976	13706
Whitehill
Lindford	1769	1974
Whitehill Chase	1818	1783
Whitehill Deadwater	1878	1896
Whitehill Hogmoor	1866	1915
Whitehill Pinewood	2056	2105
Whitehill Walldown	1636	1641
Total	11023	11314

Option B

	December `01	December `06
Alton Rural
Farringdon	1905	2194
Four Marks and Medstead	4281	4415
Binsted and Bentley	2153	2202
Holybourne and Froyle (Part)	1019	999
Selborne	1781	1805
Total	11139	11615
Alton Town
Alton Amery	1881	1945
Alton Ashdell	1842	1954
Alton Eastbrooke	1962	1943
Alton Westbrooke	2095	2105
Alton Whitedown	1860	2033
Alton Wooteys	1892	1874
Holybourne & Froyle (Part)	1255	1329
Total	12787	13183
Catherington (As Option A)
Causeway (As Option A)
Headley (As Option A)
Hangers (As Option A)
Whitehill (As Option A)

3.4 Eastleigh

There are currently 7 county electoral divisions in Eastleigh. Local members agree on 4 of these: Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, Botley and Hedge End, West End and Grange Park, and Hamble le Rice and Netley. For the remaining 3 county electoral divisions there are 2 options which it proposed be recommended to the Boundary Committee.

Option A

	December `01	December'06
Bishopstoke & Fair Oak
Fair Oak	6466	6637
Bishopstoke East	4398	4442
Bishopstoke West (Part - AB)	2164	2196
Total	13028	13275
Botley & Hedge End
Botley	4053	4038
Hedge End Wildern	4147	4140
Hedge End St. Johns	5915	5448
Total	14115	14026
Chandler's Ford
Hiltingbury West	4025	4249
Chandler's Ford West	4253	4319
Chandler's Ford East	3798	3793
Total	12076	12361
Eastleigh
Eastleigh South	5997	5971
Eastleigh Central	6241	7870
Total	12338	13841
Hamble-le-Rice & Netley
Netley Abbey	4035	4162
Bursledon and Old Netley	5556	5638
Hamble-le-Rice & Butlocks Heath	4093	4391
Total	13684	14191




Hiltingbury East & Eastleigh North
Hiltingbury East	4169	4162
Eastleigh North	6114	6050
Bishopstoke West (Part - AA and AC)	2061	2092
Total	12344	12304
West End & Hedge End Grange Park
West End North	3913	5348
West End South	4431	4468
Hedge End Grange Park	4075	4199
Total	12419	14015

Option B

	December `01	December`06
Bishopstoke & Fair Oak (As Option A)
Botley & Hedge End (As Option A)
Chandler's Ford
Hiltingbury West	4025	4249
Hiltingbury East	4169	4162
Chandler's Ford East	3798	3793
Total	11992	12204
Eastleigh East
Eastleigh North	6114	6050
Eastleigh Central (Part DB)	4169	5268
Bishopstoke West (Part AA and AC)	2061	2092
Total	12344	13410
Eastleigh West
Chandler's Ford West	4253	4319
Eastleigh South	5997	5971
Eastleigh Central (Part - DA and DC)	2072	2618
Total	12322	12908
Hamble Peninsula (As Option A)
West End & Grange Park (As Option A)

3.5 Fareham

There are currently 6 county electoral divisions in Fareham. Population growth hitherto and further growth predicted makes a strong case for an increase to 7 county electoral divisions but again there are two possible solutions, both of which are recommended for submission to the Boundary Committee.

Option A

	December `01	December `06
Fareham Central
Fareham South	5171	5085
Fareham West	5575	6177
Fareham East (Part - FE3 + 4)	2976	2934
Total	13722	14196
Fareham Crofton
Stubbington	5579	6027
Hill Head	5936	5795
Total	11515	11822
Fareham North
Fareham North	5475	5438
Fareham North West	5558	5528
Fareham East (Part - FE1 & 2)	2502	2502
Total	13535	13468
Fareham Portchester
Portchester East	8808	8801
Portchester West	5556	5548
Total	14364	14349


Fareham Sarisbury
Sarisbury	4860	5576
Park Gate	5177	5898
Total	10037	11474
Fareham Titchfield
Titchfield	5456	5607
Titchfield Common	5180	5651
Total	10636	11258
Fareham Warsash
Warsash	5150	5431
Locks Heath	5490	5767
Total	10640	11198

Option B

	December `01	December `06
Fareham Crofton (As Option A)
Fareham Locks Heath
Tichfield Common (Part - TC3 + 4)	2846	3105
Locksheath	5490	5767
Park Gate (Part - PG1, 2 and 3)	3646	4154
Total	11882	13026
Fareham North
Fareham North	5475	5438
Fareham North West	5558	5528
Fareham West (Part FW1)	1614	1788
Total	12647	12754
Fareham Portchester
Portchester East	8808	8801
Portchester West (Part PW1, 2 and 3)	3588	3583
Total	12396	12384
Fareham South East
Portchester West (Part PW4)	1968	1965
Fareham South	5171	5085
Fareham East	5478	5436
Total	12617	12486
Fareham Titchfield
Titchfield	5456	5607
Fareham West (Part FW2, 3 and 4)	3923	4347
Titchfield Common (Part TC1 and 2)	2334	2546
Total	11413	12500
Fareham Warsash
Park Gate (Part PG4)	1531	1744
Warsash	5150	5431
Sarisbury	4860	5576
Total	11541	12751

3.6 Gosport

There are currently 5 county electoral divisions and the following proposal is made to reconfigure these taking account the Boundary Committee for England's guidance.

	December `01	December `06
Hardway
Elson	3684	3569
Hardway	3549	4069
Forton	3404	3674
Rowner & Holbrook (Part - GP1)	833	840
Total	11470	12152
Lee
Lee East	2510	3011
Lee West	3554	4124
Grange	3889	4128
Rowner & Holbrook (Part - GP3 and GP4)	1651	1587
Total	11604	12850
Leesland
Leesland	3532	3558
Brockhurst	3988	3738
Christchurch	3107	3471
Privett (Part - GO1, GO2)	2052	2018
Total	12679	12785
Rowner
Bridgemary North	3685	3786
Bridgemary South	3737	3611
Peel Common	3557	3372
Rowner & Holbrook (Part - GP2)	1274	1192
Total	12253	11961
Town
Anglesey	3128	3176
Alverstoke	3638	3453
Town	3433	4065
Privett (Part - GO3)	1326	1446
Total	11525	12140

3.7 Hart

There are currently 5 county electoral divisions in Hart and the following proposal is made to reconfigure these taking into account the Boundary Committee for England's guidance.

	December `01	December `06
Church Crookham & Ewshot
Church Crookham East	3776	3865
Church Crookham West	3839	3834
Crondall (Part - QJ)	1299	2399
Fleet Courtmoor	3901	3913
Total	12815	14014
Eversley & Yateley
Eversley	2125	2020
Yateley East	4179	4063
Yateley North	3880	3853
Yateley West	4021	3945
Total	14205	13881
Fleet
Fleet Central	4128	3883
Elvetham Heath	639	2519
Fleet Pondtail	3788	3685
Fleet West	3790	4053
Total	12345	14144
Hawley, Frogmore & Hartley Wintney
Blackwater and Hawley	3537	3457
Fleet North (Part - PA + QB2)	1917	1929
Frogmore & Darby Green	4274	4339
Hartley Wintney	3942	4277
Total	13670	14002
Odiham
Crondall (Part - QH + QK1)	1860	1886
Hook	5666	6125
Long Sutton	1810	1975
Odiham	3496	3563
Total	12832	14049

3.8 Havant

There are currently 8 county electoral divisions in Havant. Electorate predictions, however, indicate a strong case for a reduction to 7 and 2 options are suggested as to how best this can be achieved.

Option A (Details to follow)

Barncroft & Warren Park

Barncroft subsumed into a larger Bedhampton ward along with part of Warren Park. The balance of Warren Park to be part of a new division called "Leigh Park".

Battins and Bondfields

Largely unchanged but added to part of Warren Park to form the new division of Leigh Park, a few roads to the South have been added to Bedhampton.

Bedhampton & St. Faiths West

Largely reconfigured, losing much of the Eastern end to Emsworth and increasing size to the North to take in Barncroft and part of Warren Park. Suggest renaming this ward "Bedhampton and Leigh Park West".

Cowplain & Hart Plain

Will lose some to Waterloo along the South Eastern corner.

Emsworth & St. Faiths East

Division extended in Warblington area to take in the Eastern part of the previous Bedhampton & St. Faiths West division.

Hayling Island

Unchanged

Purbrook & Stakes South

Unchanged

Waterloo & Stakes North

Unchanged apart from gaining some from Cowplain and Hart Plain at North East corner.

Option B

	December `01	December `06
Barncroft and Bedhampton
Barncroft	4317	4306
Bedhampton (Part 3 and 4)	3655	3639
Warren Park (Part 3 and 4)	2189	2166
Purbrook (Part 4)	1505	1548
Total	11840	11659
Battins and Bondfields
Bondfields	5125	5062
Battins	4887	4861
Warren Park (Part 1 and 2)	2563	2513
Total	12575	12436
Cowplain and Hart Plain
Cowplain (Part 1 - 5)	6483	6555
Hart Plain	7349	7472
Total	13832	14027
Emsworth and St. Faiths (unchanged)
Emsworth	7822	7793
St. Faiths	6882	6816
Total	14704	14609
Hayling Island (unchanged)
Hayling East	7292	7369
Hayling West	7023	7030
Total	14315	14399
Purbrook and Stakes South
Stakes (Part 4 - 7)	3545	3642
Purbrook (Part 1 - 3, 5 - 7)	5835	6004
Bedhampton (Part 1, 2, 5 - 7)	3292	3279
Total	12672	12925
Waterloo and Stakes North
Waterloo	7532	7598
Cowplain (Part 6)	846	855
Stakes (Part 1 - 3)	4021	4134
Total	12399	12587

3.9 New Forest

There are currently 11 county electoral divisions in the New Forest and the following proposal is made to reconfigure these taking into account the many and diverse aspects of the New Forest. The proposals are particularly mindful of the special needs of The Waterside, the Coastal Towns, the Avon Valley and the core New Forest area whilst seeking to maintain and support local community of interest and take account of the Boundary Committee's guidance in relation to maintaining parish boundaries and local ties and identities.

In the rural areas the parishes form a vital part of the fabric of life in the New Forest. Every effort has been accordingly made to preserve parish boundaries to maintain strong communities, in line with the County Council's corporate aims.

	December `01	December `06
Brockenhurst
Bashley	2336	2108
Brockenhurst and Forest South East	4586	4651
Boldre and Sway	4355	4407
Total	11277	11166
Dibden & Hythe
Butts Ash & Dibden Purlieu	5058	5117
Dibden & Hythe East	4565	4778
Hythe West & Langdown	4966	5045
Total	14589	14940
Fawley
Fawley, Blackfield and Langley	5061	5114
Holbury and North Blackfield	5051	5018
Furzedown and Hardley	2598	2653
Total	12710	12785
Fordingbridge
Downland	2383	2405
Fordingbridge	5142	5159
Forest North West	2194	2197
Bramshaw, Copythorne N & Minstead (Pt) (Bramshaw and Copythorne North)	1496	1478
Total	11215	11239
Lymington
Buckland	2488	2707
Lymington Town	4659	4771
Pennington	4616	4624
Total	11763	12102
Lyndhurst
Bramshaw, Copythorne N & Minstead (Pt) (Minstead)	568	582
Ashurst, Copythorne S & Netley Marsh	4757	4950
Lyndhurst	2475	2589
Bransgore and Burley	4742	4670
Total	12542	12791
Marchwood and Totton South
Totton South	4703	4864
Totton East	4750	4746
Marchwood	4175	4356
Total	13628	13966
Milford and Hordle
Hordle	4347	4421
Milford	4294	4326
Fernhill	4549	4770
Total	13190	13517

New Milton
Barton	4604	4677
Becton	3981	4188
Milton	4822	4872
Total	13407	13737
Ringwood
Ringwood North	4825	4913
Ringwood South	4601	4612
Ringwood East and Sopley	2149	2129
Total	11575	11654
Totton
Totton Central	4056	3906
Totton North	4238	5105
Totton West	4078	4213
Total	12372	13224

3.10 Rushmoor

There are currently 5 county electoral divisions in Rushmoor and the following proposal is made to reconfigure these taking into account particularly the impact of future major development in Aldershot and the uncertainties in terms of the electorate vis-à-vis the sizeable armed services contingent in the borough and Aldershot in particular. Taking these issues into account the proposals for Aldershot West indicate a county electoral division significantly below the county average but in the long term growth is expected to address the imbalance.

	December `01	December`06
Aldershot East
Heron Wood	4442	4504
Manor Park (Part - RT)	2834	3062
North Town	4420	4443
Total	11696	12009


Aldershot West
Rowhill	4178	4160
Manor Park (Part - RU)	1505	1617
St. Marks (Part)	892	925
Wellington	4280	4457
Total	10855	11159
Farnborough North
Grange	4100	4144
Mayfield	4148	4131
West Heath	4188	4134
Total	12436	12379
Farnborough South
Empress	4536	4631
Knellwood	4202	4260
St. Marks (Part)	3782	3789
Total	12520	12682
Farnborough West
Cove and Southwood	4283	4269
Fernhill	4196	4231
St. Johns	4442	4442
Total	12921	12942

3.11 Test Valley

Test Valley is a predominantly rural area with centres of population in Andover and Romsey and significant development in the lower southern part of the district adjacent to the areas served by Eastleigh Borough Council and Southampton City Council.

There are currently 6 county electoral divisions in Test Valley but population growth hitherto and further predicted growth makes a strong case for an increase to 7.

	December `01	December`06
Andover North
Alamein (part)	5470	5508
Charlton	1674	1656
Harrow Way	5445	5990
Total	12589	13154
Andover Rural
Bourne Valley	1666	1695
Alamein (Part)	261	1036
Penton Bellinger	3564	3538
Amport	1771	1792
Anna (Part SC)	1101	1394
St. Mary's (Part - UP/UR/US)	3191	3517
Total	11554	12972
Andover South
Millway	5639	5819
Winton	5990	6065
St. Mary's (Part - UQ)	2361	2358
Total	13990	14242
Baddesley
Ampfield and Braishfield	1731	1721
North Baddesley	5144	5199
Valley Park	5444	5512
Total	12319	12432
Romsey Extra
Romsey Extra	2563	2563
Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams	5180	5173
Blackwater	4132	4121
Total	11875	11857

Romsey Town
Abbey	3487	3898
Cupernham	4228	4253
Tadburn	4034	3949
Total	11749	12100
Test Valley Central
Over Wallop	1096	1136
Broughton and Stockbridge	3703	3733
Dun Valley	1741	1778
Kings Somborne and Michelmersh	1965	2025
Harewood	1806	1770
Anna (Part - TA & UY)	1880	2701
Total	12191	13143

3.12 Winchester

There are currently 6 county electoral divisions in Winchester but population growth and further predicted growth make a strong case for an increase to 7. The city area can be divided either East/West (Option A) or North/South (Option B) using whole new wards and keeping close to the county average. The former largely retains the existing, well established and well understood geographical approach. In the rural part of the district some splitting of wards by parish has been necessary to achieve equality of electorates as far as possible. Whilst the new seat, which it is suggested be called Winchester Southern Parishes, is some 25% below the 2001 average, by 2006 anticipated growth is expected to result in a division 11-12% below the 2006 average or 8-9% below the 2001 average. Meon Valley too exceeds the 10% tolerance but in both cases large rural areas prevail of which it is considered much account should be taken.

Bishops Waltham

Bishops Waltham	5138	5178
Colden Common & Twyford	4126	4091
Owslebury & Curdridge	2907	2953
Total	12171	12222
Downlands
Olivers Battery & Badger Farm	3280	3185
Compton & Otterbourne	3099	3101
Sparsholt (Part)	1160	1200
Littleton & Harestock	2826	2770
Wonston & Micheldever (Part XV)	2116	2154
Total	12481	12410
Itchen Valley
The Alresfords	4944	4994
- less Bighton ?	(257)
Itchen Valley	1547	1558
Sparsholt (Part)	355	344
Kings Worthy	3151	3132
Wonston & Micheldever (Part XH/XI/XJ/YZ)	1969	2040
Total	11966	12068
Meon Valley
Shedfield	3049	3062
Upper Meon Valley	1515	1539
Droxford, Soberton & Hambledon	1752	1796
Swanmore & Newtown	3079	3164
Cheriton & Bishops Sutton	1653	1722
(plus Bighton?)	(257)
Total	11048	11283
New South Seat
Denmead	4944	5111
Whiteley	1865	2281
Wickham	2018	2842
Boarhunt & Southwick	976	1638
Total	9803	11872

Option A

	December `01	December `06
Winchester Eastgate
St. Bartholomew	4376	4383
St. John and All Saints	4758	4702
St. Michael	4253	4286
Total	13387	13371
Winchester Westgate
St. Barnabas	5472	5271
St. Luke	4483	4449
St. Paul	3549	3600
Total	13504	13320

Option B

	December `01	December `06
Winchester North
St. Banabas	5472	5271
St. Bartholomew	4376	4383
St. Paul	3549	3600
Total	13397	13254
Winchester South
St. John and All Saints	4758	4702
St. Luke	4483	4449
St. Michael	4253	4286
Total	13494	13437

4. Conclusion

The Panel has been asked by the Council to analyse the proposals put forward by local members and assessed by the political Group Leaders to enable proposals to be submitted to the Boundary Committee for England by their deadline of 25 November 2002. Given the short timescale it is suggested that this report, updated in the light of views expressed by the Members Panel, be submitted to the Boundary Committee and also presented by the Leader for consideration by the County Council on 28 November 2002.

5. Recommendation:

That the proposals described in the report be considered with a view to the formulation of the County Council's proposals for submission to the Boundary Committee for England in relation to the Periodic Electoral Review of county electoral divisions and the submission of those proposals to the County Council on 28 November 2002.

5MR381102

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