Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Prout. Councillor M Bryant attended as a substitute for Councillor Prout.

To receive any declarations of interest Members may wish to make including the term(s) of the Grant of Dispensation(s) by the Standards Committee.

Councillor A Wells declared a personal interest in Agenda item 6, Response to the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2011 and Proposals for Agreement by the General Assembly of the Council, as he is a Governor of West Hill Primary School which is used as a polling station.

Councillor B E Read declared a personal interest in Agenda item 6, Response to the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2011 and Proposals for Agreement by the General Assembly of the Council, as he is a member of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council and the Town Hall is used as a polling station.

Councillor K M Kelly declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6, Response to the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2011 and Proposals for Agreement by the General Assembly of the Council, in relation to the discussion of proposals affecting Ingress Park as he is a Director of Ingress Park (Greenhithe) Management Limited and a resident of Ingress Park.

To note the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2011.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 1 August 2011 be agreed as a correct record.

The Chairman will announce his decision as to whether there are any urgent items and their position on the agenda.

There were no urgent items.

There were no references from other committees.

To consider the responses received to the Consultation Exercise on the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2011 and to recommend to the General Assembly of the Council accordingly.

The Member Services Manager reminded Members that the Council was required to carry out a full review of its Polling Districts and Polling Places every 4 years and that the latest review had to be completed by 31 December 2011 but was being carried out in time for any changes to be introduced when the annual Register of Electors was published on 1^st December 2011. Attention was drawn to the requirements of the review, the stages of the process and the timetable for completion.

The Sub-committee had considered the existing arrangements for Polling Districts and Polling Places at its meeting on 1 August 2011 and had broadly supported the Returning Officer’s initial recommendations that no changes were needed given the Council’s practice of reviewing its arrangements annually and the lack of problems encountered with the existing locations. However the Sub-committee had asked for consideration to be given to alternative options in three polling districts:

DA – Greenhithe Polling District

1. No Change. Mobile unit based at Eagles Road car park.

2. Retaining the mobile unit at Eagles Road car park and locating an additional mobile polling station in Ingress Park – possibly along the river walkway. This would involve dividing the polling district into two new polling districts with the divide running along The Avenue.

3. Retaining the mobile unit at Eagles Road car park and locating an additional polling station at the British Legion Club, London Road to serve electors from Greenhithe Polling  District. This would also involve splitting the polling district into two districts.

DB – Knockhall Polling District

1. No Change. Retaining a polling station at the British Legion Club, London Road.

2. Moving the polling station from the British Legion Club, London Road to the Greenhithe Community Centre.

3. If option 3 of the options for Greenhithe Polling District is adopted, locate two polling stations at the British Legion Club, London Road. One polling station would serve part of Greenhithe and the other Knockhall.

GB- Summerhouse Polling District

1. No Change

2. Providing an additional mobile polling station at Stonehill Woods Park. This would mean dividing the polling district into two districts.

These options had been incorporated along with the Returning Officer’s proposals into the document issued for public consultation immediately after the meeting. The Sub-committee was reminded of the steps taken to give notice of the consultation exercise which closed on 31 August and the organisations consulted as part of the exercise, including the political parties, the local MP, Councillors and organisations with expertise in terms of accessibility for disabled people.

RESPONSES TO THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE

The Sub-committee was advised that six responses had been received by the end of August and a further three responses had been received after the consultation ended. Of the nine responses two had not proposed any changes and seven had suggested alternative options or offered opinions as follows:

DA – Greenhithe Polling District and DB – Knockhall Polling District

Of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.