Agenda item

The Council considered a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which provided information on the initial proposals of the Boundary Commission for England for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries on England, and of the consultation procedure (for copy see file of Minutes).

In Moving the report, Councillor Henig informed the Council that the Boundary Review was as a result of the Government’s desire to reduce the number of MPs to 600.  There would be an increase in the number of electors per constituency to approximately 75,000 and the number of constituencies in County Durham would decrease from 6 to 5.  As a result of this reduction, some of the proposed constituencies would include wards of neighbouring authorities, and would include cross-constituency seats.

The Constitution Working Group had deferred consideration of the proposals to a future meeting of the Group.  Group Leaders were asked to consult the members of their groups, and feedback comments to Constitution Working Group on 9 November, 2016. Comments of the initial proposals needed to be submitted by 5 December, 2016 which was before the next Council meeting and the report sought delegated authority to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to prepare and submit a response having taken into account comments from Constitution Working Group.

In Seconding the report, Councillor Hopgood encouraged all Members to participate with their Group Leaders to provide feedback to the Constitution Working Group.

Councillor R Bell added that Members needed to engage with community groups to ensure they also made representations.

Resolved:

That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to prepare and submit a response to the Boundary Commission for England in consultation with Constitution Working Group.