Leon Spence

North West Leicestershire District Council Labour Group

Representative of a community group/organisation

04/06/2013 10:18

"Please find attached the submission of North West Leicestershire Labour Group.

Kind regards

Leon Spence

Group Leader"

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North West Leicestershire District Council Labour Group Proposals for District Ward Boundaries

1 Introduction

The overarching premise of the review of boundaries must be to balance the ideal of achieving greater accountability to residents whilst at the same time protecting the recognised cohesion of distinct communities. Nearly 80% of the residents of North West Leicestershire live within parished areas. Parishes are the fundamental community building blocks and, together with the statutory criteria, have driven these proposals. Our proposals have not been restricted by existing ward or polling district boundaries as we feel it is important that parishes and the statutory criteria take precedence. However, we see no merit in making radical change when the criteria can be met with much simpler modification. The proposals consider each parish and the non-parished area and determine the most appropriate ward configuration, taking in to account the statutory criteria and local factors. They are described in detail in section 4 together with an Annex making a comparison with the proposals submitted by North West Leicestershire District Council. The following two sections highlight some concerns about the process of the review.

2 Multi-Member Wards

These proposals are not limited to one member wards. There is no evidence to suggest that a mixture of one, two and three member wards has not been successful in North West Leicestershire. We note that the North West Leicestershire District Council papers seeking a one member review gave no justification for a one member only policy. In appropriate circumstances, we believe that multi-member wards can have significant advantages:

• Retention of community identity, avoiding creating false boundaries that unnecessarily divide communities.

• Promotes joint ownership of issues that impact a whole community, e.g. economic growth in our village and town centres.

• Ensures greater clarity over the area represented by a member.

• Opportunity for electors to be represented by more than one party.

• Provides electors with a choice of representative. A representative is more likely to be available when required.

In determining whether a multi-member ward is appropriate, the main driver has been the identities and interests of local communities. We have taken in to account both the views of members of our own organisation and non-affiliated local residents who have expressed concern that the enforced application of one member wards may result in a dilution of focus on recognised community centres. We also believe that some parish councils would be concerned about dividing representation of their area. Our main proposals include both one and two member wards, although in some areas there is a strong case for three member wards, in particular Castle Donington, Central Coalville, Warren Hills and Ibstock in order to retain community cohesion. We note that neighbouring authorities have made use of multi-member wards rather than imposing a one member ward straitjacket.

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3 Electorate Forecasts

The ward proposals have been developed using the electorate forecasts provided by North West Leicestershire District Council to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. However, we have some concerns about these forecasts. We have not been provided with sufficient information to replicate the forecasts, in particular the specific driver of growth in electorate in each polling district. This can be very important when considering proposals which cross existing polling district boundaries. Also the forecasts assume very peaky growth, with growth concentrated in a few polling districts and many polling districts having no growing at all. Electorate growth has not been of this nature in the past and is unlikely to be so in the future. The risk is that changes to ward boundaries based on inaccurate forecasts could reduce rather than improve the degree of equality of representation.

4 Proposals

The following table gives the existing configuration of wards, our main proposal and an option making use of three member wards.

Existing Proposed Option

One Member 6 14 10

Two Members 10 12 8

Three Members 4 0 4

The following sections describe in detail our proposal for each parish and the non-parished areas.

4.1 Castle Donington Parish

Castle Donington parish is forecast to have 6,101 electors, within the 10% tolerance for three members. The older eastern side of the village is distinct from the newer development on the western side, separated by the main route through the village. Propose the eastern side of Castle Donington forms a single member ward and the western side forms a two member ward. There is no natural community division available for two one member wards. As mentioned above, consideration should also be given to a three member ward.

4.2 Kegworth Parish

Kegworth parish is forecast to have an electorate of 3,189, not within the 10% tolerance for either one or two members. However, with the addition of Lockington-Hemington parish, the forecast electorate is 3,875, within the 10% tolerance for two members. This combination existed prior to the last boundary review. Although Kegworth is divided by the A6, the village is a single cohesive community and one member wards cannot be justified on community interest and identity grounds. Propose the Kegworth and Lockington-Hemington Parishes form a two member ward.

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4.3 Central Parishes

The nine parishes in the central area of the District (Belton, Breedon on the Hill, Coleorton, Isley Cum Langley, Long Whatton & Diseworth, Osgathorpe, Staunton Harold, Swannington and Worthington) are forecast to have a combined electorate of 6,487, within the 10% tolerance for three members. Propose create three one member wards covering the nine parishes in the central area of the District as follows: Swannington, Coleorton and Osgathorpe; Long Whatton and Diseworth, and Belton; Isley cum Langley, Breedon, Worthington and Staunton Harold.

4.4 Ravenstone & Packington Parishes

Packington and Ravenstone parishes are forecast to have a combined electorate of 2,428, which is outside the 10% tolerance for a single member ward. However, in this instance we believe the desire to reflect the identities of local communities outweighs the lack of equality of representation. Propose create a single member ward consisting of the Packington and Ravenstone parishes.

4.5 Ashby de la Zouch Parish

Ashby de la Zouch parish is forecast to have an electorate of 11,929, outside the 10% tolerance for five or six members. However, without Blackfordby the forecast electorate is 10,804, within the 10% tolerance for five members. Blackfordby is currently in the Moira ward and is a distinctly separate community from Ashby de la Zouch. The natural boundaries between communities within Ashby de la Zouch are the three main roads which suggest a one member ward and two two member wards. The southern part of the town, largely between Tamworth Road and Nottingham Road forms a single member ward, the South Western part of the town between Burton Road and Tamworth Road forms a two member ward and the Northern part of the town between Burton Road and Nottingham Road forms a second two member ward. We see no justification for splitting these communities to create one member wards. Propose two two member wards and one one member ward based on the communities between the three main roads. A map showing the proposed ward boundaries is attached.

4.6 Ashby Woulds Parish

The Ashby Woulds parish area is forecast to have an electorate of 2,973, outside the 10% tolerance for one or two members. However, with the addition of Balckfordby (part of Ashby de la Zouch parish), the forecast electorate is 4,098, within the 10% tolerance for two members. The area consists of three distinct communities - Moira, Blackfordby and Albert Village. Moira is the largest with 2,367 electors but is outside the 10% tolerance for one member. We do not believe the lack of equality of representation can be justified to create two one member wards, particularly as Albert Village and Blackfordby have little community or physical links. Propose create a two member ward for the Ashby Woulds parish area and Blackfordby part of Ashby de la Zouch parish.

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4.7 Oakthorpe & Donisthorpe Parish

Oakthorpe & Donisthorpe parish is forecast to have an electorate of 2,056, within the 10% tolerance for a one member ward. Propose create a one member ward for the Oakthorpe & Donisthorpe Parish area.

4.8 Measham Parish

Measham Parish is forecast to have an electorate of 4,181, within the 10% tolerance for two members. There is no natural community boundary that would justify splitting the Measham parish area to create two one member wards. Propose create a two member ward covering the Measham Parish area.

4.9 Southern Parishes

The parishes of Chilcote, Stretton en le Field, Appleby, Snarestone, Newton Burgoland, Swepstone and Normanton le Heath are forecast to have an electorate of 1,971, within the 10% tolerance for a single member ward. Propose create a single member ward consisting of seven parish areas - Chilcote, Stretton en le Field, Appleby, Snarestone, Newton Burgoland, Swepstone and Normanton le Heath.

4.10 Ibstock and Heather Parishes

Ibstock parish is forecast to have an electorate of 5,380, outside the 10% tolerance for two or three members. Heather parish is forecast to have an electorate of 790, also outside the 10% tolerance, but the forecast electorate for both Ibstock and Heather parishes together is 6,170, within the 10% tolerance for three members. The area to the east of Melbourne Road consists largely of the original Ibstock village and is forecast to have an electorate of 4,140, within the 10% tolerance for a two member ward. The more recently developed western side of Melbourne Road together with Heather parish is forecast to have an electorate of 2,030, within the 10% tolerance for a one member ward. Propose a two member ward based on the eastern side of Ibstock parish and a one member ward based on Heather parish and the western side of Ibstock parish. Consideration should also be given to a three member ward covering the two areas. A map showing the proposed ward boundaries is attached.

4.11 Ellistown Parish

Ellistown parish is forecast to have 2,167 electors, within the 10% tolerance for a one member ward. Propose create a one member ward based on the Ellistown parish.

4.12 Hugglescote Parish

Hugglescote parish is forecast to have 4,167 electors, within the 10% tolerance for two members. There are no natural community boundaries that can be used to divide the parish.

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Propose a two member ward based on the Hugglescote parish area.

4.13 Coalville Non-Parished Areas

The non-parished areas of Coalville, covering central Coalville and Warren Hills, are forecast to have 14,593 electors, within the 10% tolerance for seven members. The area to the west of the railway line is forecast to have 4,547 electors, within the 10% tolerance for two members. This area is highly integrated and we see no justification for creating two one member wards rather than one two member ward. The area bounded by the railway line, Stephensons Way and Broomleys Road/Forest Road is forecast to have an electorate of 1,959, within the 10% tolerance for one member. As discussed above, consideration should be given to a three member ward covering these two areas. The remaining area naturally splits in to three areas – south west, north and south east. The south west area (based around Broomleys Road and Bardon Road) and northern area (based around Meadow Lane) are forecast to have electorates of 1,898 and 1,986 respectively, both within the 10% tolerance for one member. The south east area, which is grouped around Bardon Hill, together with Bardon parish, is forecast to have an electorate of 4,180, within the 10% tolerance for two members. It is not possible to divide this area without splitting the Greenhill estate area, which would be contrary to the statutory criteria of reflecting community identities and interests. Because of the nature of the communities, consideration should also be given to a three member ward covering the northern and south eastern areas. Propose three one member wards and two two member wards with further consideration of three member wards. A map showing the proposed ward boundaries is attached.

4.14 Whitwick Parish

Whitwick parish area is forecast to have 7,179 electors, which is outside the 10% tolerance for both three members and four members. Charley Parish has a significant common boundary with Whitwick Parish and is forecast to have an electorate of 182. The two parishes together are forecast to have an electorate just below the lower 10% tolerance for a four member ward. However, the difference is small and the desire to retain community identities outweighs this small difference. Whitwick parish is a well established single community with its own identity and interests. It is difficult to identify separate natural communities that could form wards. The most recognisable boundary is the Hall Lane/North Street axis creating two two members wards. For community identity reasons, we see no further justification to create four one member wards. Propose create two two members wards based on the Whitwick and Charley parishes. A map showing the proposed ward boundaries is attached.

4.15 Thringstone Non-Parished Areas

The Thringstone non-parished area is forecast to have 2,030 electors. It is a natural community and falls within the 10% tolerance for one member. Propose create a one member ward based on the non-parished areas of Thringstone.

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Annex – Comparison with North West Leicestershire District Council Proposals

Ward No. Parishes/Area Differences

1 Appleby None

2, 3 Measham Two member ward.

4 Oakthorpe & Donisthorpe

None

5 Ravenstone & Packington

None

6, 7 Ashby Woulds Two member ward.

8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Ashby de la Zouch Two two member wards and a one member ward.

13, 14 Kegworth Two member ward.

15, 16, 17

Castle Donington One one member ward and one two member ward. Consider a three member ward.

18 Thringstone None.

19 Coleorton & Swannington

None.

21 Long Whatton & Belton

None.

22 Breedon & Worthington

None.

23, 24, 26, 27

Whitwick & Charley Two two member wards.

20, 33, 34, 35

Warren Hills & Bardon

One two member ward and two one member wards. Consider a three member ward and a one member ward.

29, 30 Hugglescote Two member ward.

25 Ellistown None.

36, 37, 38

Ibstock & Heather One two member ward and one one member ward. Consider a three member ward.

28, 31, 32

Coalville One two member ward and one one member ward. Consider a three member ward.

Degree of Equality of Representation: The degree of equality of representation can be measured by the proportion of the electorate that live in wards where the forecast electorate is outside the 10% tolerance. For the North West Leicestershire District Council proposal this is over 20%. For this proposal the proportion is 11%.

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Proposed Ashby de la Zouch Parish Ward Boundaries

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Proposed Coalville Non-Parished Areas and Whitwick Parish Ward Boundaries

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Proposed Ibstock Parish and Heather Parish Ward Boundaries