Archived decisions

At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday, 4 March, 2004 at 10.00 a.m.

Chairman :

p Councillor Mrs. M. D. Snaith

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor J. V. Bryant

Councillors:

p Mrs S.E. Allbright

p D.G. Allen

p Mrs A.E. Bailey

Mrs. E.S.M. Barron

Mrs P.G. Banks

p R. J. Baulk

I.F.E. Beagley

Carol Boulton

p F.J. Bright

P.R. Brown

p Mrs. E.M. Byrom

p M.F. Cartwright

p K.G. Chapman

p P.J. Chegwyn

p A.P. Collett

p B.D. Dash

p C.R.H. Davidovitz

G.W. Davies-Dear

p Mrs. P.M. Devereux

p Mrs. P. Dickens

p A.G. Dowden

p L. T. Dunsdon

Dr. R.J. Ellis

Capt. K.B. Estlin

p W.J. Filer

p Mrs. J.K. Frankum

p E.F. Gale, M.B.E.

p M.S. Geddes

D. Gillett

p Mrs S.M. Glasspool, D.L.

p J.K. Glen

p B.T. Gurden

Mrs. D.R. Harrison

S.A. Hayes

P.A. Heath

p Mrs. K. Heron

p Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.

p Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown

p K. House

p P.R.C. Hutcheson

p Jo Kelly

M.J. Kendal

p R.J. Kimber

p D.A. Kirk

p T.G. Knight

p Mrs C.A. Leversha

p A.R. Ludlow

p P. Luffman

p P.K. Mason

p R.C. McIntosh

Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

p Mrs. P.G. Peskett

P.A. Pierce

p R.H. Price

p Mrs. E.M.F. Randall

A.W. Rice, T.D.

M.J. Roberts

p Sir James Scott

K.P.J. Searle

p J.D. Shaw

M.L. Sheehan

Mrs. V. Steel

p J.W. Stocks

p T.K. Thornber, C.B.E.

J. Waddington

p Dr. J.G.L. Wall

p J.K. West

Mrs P.A. West

p W.H. Wheeler

p M.J. Woodhall

p Jenny Wride

p D.F. Wright

266 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

All Members who believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, were required to declare their personal interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

267 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

268 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications from the Chairman.

269 LEADER'S REPORT

There were no reports from the Leader

270 PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW OF COUNTY ELECTORAL DIVISIONS

The Council considered the report and supplementary report of the Chief Executive (Item 5 in the Minute Book). The main report reflected the outcome of analysis of the Boundary Committee for England's draft recommendations by Members through arrangements made by the lead Members whose nomination the Leader had reported to the County Council in September 2002, and following meetings between the three political group leaders. The supplementary report reflected the issues raised following consideration of the Boundary Committee's draft recommendations on 3 March by the Joint Members Panel comprising the three political group leaders and the County Councillors serving on the Standards Committee.

The Leader paid tribute to the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups and the lead Members for their hard work and co-operation in developing responses to the draft recommendations. The Group Leaders had agreed that the majority party's recommendation should be made clear in the County Council's response to the Boundary Committee and that minority views should also be included.

In responding to the issues raised, the Council made very clear its strong opposition to the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee which sought to impose multi-member county electoral divisions in Basingstoke, Fareham, Gosport and Havant. The Council endorsed the views against multi-member divisions set out in paragraph 2.7 of the main report. The Council was mindful that very few county councils had recommended any multi-member divisions in their initial submissions indicating a widespread lack of support for the concept. The matter was considered so significant that it was agreed that the County Council should seek to enlist the support of Hampshire Members of Parliament for its views in order to present a united front in opposition to the draft recommendations for multi-member divisions in Hampshire.

The Council then considered the draft response district by district. There was no objection to the draft recommendations in respect of New Forest and Test Valley. In relation to Winchester, the Council did not agree with the view expressed by Winchester City Council that the parish of Headbourne Worthy should form part of the Downlands Division rather than the Itchen Valley Division and accordingly supported the Boundary Committee's draft recommendations for Winchester in their entirety.

Eastleigh

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

Hart

Councillor P. R. C. Hutcheson, the lead Member, considered that he and other local members should be given time to consider the Liberal Democrat proposition and this was agreed, the Chief Executive to be advised of the outcome in time for submission of the County Council's response on 8 March 2004.

Rushmoor

The report of the Members Panel was agreed supporting the transfer of Manor Park polling districts RU and RT between Aldershot West and Aldershot East respectively.

Basingstoke

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

Fareham

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

Gosport

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

Havant

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

East Hampshire

The report of the Members Panel was agreed.

ORDERED:

1. That the County Council strongly opposes the establishment of multi-member county electoral divisions for the reasons set out in paragraph 2.7 in the report and that Hampshire MPs be sent a copy of the County Council's response and that they be urged also to oppose the establishment of multi-member electoral divisions in Hampshire;

2. That the proposals for Basingstoke, East Hampshire, Eastleigh,
Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant and Rushmoor set out in the report be submitted to the Boundary Committee for England and that the
Boundary Committee be advised of minority groups' views as included in the report;

3. That the County Council raises no objection to the Boundary
Committee's draft recommendations for the New Forest, Test Valley
and Winchester.

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