Purpose

To consider the outcome of the Polling
District and Polling Place Review 2023/24.

Decision

A report was submitted
regarding this review (required every five years by Section 18C of
The Representation of the People Act 1983) which commenced on
6th November 2023. The report explained the
Council’s statutory duties for ensuring the provision of
accessible voting facilities and set out the responses to a public
consultation regarding current arrangements.
 
An amended polling scheme was
proposed which included:
 

·          
consequential changes following the recent electoral
review conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for
England (LGBCE);

 

·          
changes to polling district references to reflect
new ward boundaries and to ensure all such references presented a
more logical reflection of relevant wards

 

·          
new polling districts in Warlingham West and Oxted
to take account of the changes to parish wards in those areas
following the LGBCE electoral review.
 
During the consultation,
representations had been submitted in favour of potential
alternative polling places for the Godstone Central, Horne and
Warlingham East polling districts. However, following consideration
of the suggested locations, it was concluded that the existing
venues should remain unchanged.
 
The report confirmed that some
voters would be assigned new polling stations in light of the
boundary review and that explanatory letters (plus e-mails if
electors had agreed to share
e-mail addresses) would be sent
to affected households in March 2024. Members were advised that,
where Parish and District ward boundaries are not co-terminus,
electors would still be able to cast their votes in the one polling
station. The Committee was also informed that Parish boundaries
could only be made to realign with District wards via community
governance reviews. Given the significant resource requirements of
such reviews, they would have to be undertaken after the next
General Election and could only be effective for subsequent parish
polls. 
        
 
COUNCIL
DECISIONS
(subject to ratification
by Council)
 
 
          R E C O M M
E N D E D – that:
 

A.   
consequential changes be made to the polling
district scheme to reflect the outcome of the Local Government
Boundary Commission for England electoral review of Tandridge,
namely:
 

(i)       
the polling place for polling district EC
(recommended reference LNC2) be Lingfield & Dormansland
Community Hall
 

(ii)      
a new polling district (ON2) be created to reflect
the boundary changes between Oxted North and Oxted South, and that
the polling place be Oxted Community Hall
 

(iii)     
polling districts in Caterham be amended to reflect
the new Portley & Queens Park and Westway wards
 

(iv)     
a new polling district (WAW2) be created to reflect
the boundary changes between Warlingham West and
Whyteleafe;
 

B.   
polling district references be amended to reflect
the ward they are within; and
 

C.  
no further changes to polling districts or polling
places be made.