Boundary Reviews

District Council Boundary Review

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is responsible for conducting reviews of local authority electoral arrangements. It can also conduct reviews of the structure of local government, and the external boundaries of local authorities.

On 9 February 2016 the LGBCE formally advised that, following a request from the Council, an electoral review of Tendring District Council would take place.

The review has now been completed and the final recommendations for Tendring were published on 4 July 2017.  They proposed a pattern of 2 three member wards, 12 two member wards and 18 one member ward.  The number of councillors proposed was 48.  Details of the consultation process and final recommendations can be found at: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk(link is external).

The Order implementing the LGBCE's review was laid in Parliament on 16 October.  No objections were received and the Order was made on 20 November 2017.  The Order can be viewed here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2017/9780111160077/contents(link is external)

The new arrangements will be in place for the Tendring District Council elections in 2019.

Details of the new wards, boundaries and streets contained within each ward are available here

Parliamentary Boundary Review 2023

A Parliamentary Boundary defines the area where an elector votes for their local Member of Parliament – known as a Parliamentary Constituency.

Full details regarding this consultation, plus details of how you can have your say can be found here: Eastern | BCE Consultation Portal (bcereviews.org.uk) The deadline for making comments is 5 December 2023.

Community Governance Reviews

A Community Governance Review is a legal process whereby Principal Councils can undertake reviews of community governance in their area. This is usually done by way of a review of Town and Parish Councils. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows for a Principal Council to make recommendations on one or more of the following:-

  • the creating, aggregating, amalgamating, separation, grouping or abolition of town and parish councils;
  • the name and style of a new town or parish council;
  • the electoral arrangements of town and parish councils (e.g. number of councillors, wards, election frequency etc.)

Tendring District Council has recently considered whether Community Governance Reviews should be undertaken in relation to Town and Parish Councils within the Tendring District.

At the Council meeting on 21 November 2017, terms of reference were agreed for a review of a small area of land that sits within the St Osyth District Council area but not within the St Osyth Parish area. It was further agreed that no Community Governance Review would be taken forward at this time for the following Town / Parish Councils:- Bradfield, Brightlingsea, Frinton and Walton, Great Bromley, Manningtree, Mistley, Thorrington, Weeley, Wix or the unparished area of Tendring.

At the Council meeting on 23 January 2018, terms of reference were agreed for a review of the number of seats on Harwich Town Council.

At the Council meeting on 15 May 2018 is was agreed that no Community Governance Review be taken forward at this time for the following Parish Councils: Ardleigh, Alresford, Beaumont, Elmstead, Frating, Great Bentley, Great Oakley, Lawford, Little Bentley, Little Bromley, Little Clacton, Little Oakley, Ramsey and Parkeston, Tendring, Thorpe-le-Soken and Wrabness.

Consultation on Community Governance Reviews

Following consultation, the final recommendations for the reviews of the St Osyth land and of Harwich Town Council were agreed at the Council meeting on 3 July 2018  as follows:-

For the Harwich Community Governance Review that the number of Harwich Town Councillors remains at 16 with the existing parish ward distribution.

The reasons for this decision are that Harwich Town Council had requested an increase in the number of Councillors from 16 to 17 to even out the representation across the wards. There were 26 replies to the public consultation of which 6 (24%) supported an increase in Councillors and 19 (76%) did not. This was a requested change and there is no other factor that would require an increase in Councillors. No comments were received on the draft recommendations. Therefore, given the responses received, it is agreed that the number of Harwich Town Councillors remains at 16 with the existing ward distribution.

For the St Osyth Community Governance Review that a boundary change should be implemented in order to make the St Osyth Parish and District boundaries coterminous.

The reasons for this decision are that this review was implemented because there is currently a small area of land that, following the District Boundary Review, sits within the St Osyth District Council boundary but is not within the St Osyth Parish boundary. The review asked whether this section of land should be brought within the St Osyth Parish boundary. There were 8 responses of which 5 (62%) agreed with the proposed boundary change and 3 (38%) did not. No comments were received on the draft recommendations other than confirmation from St Osyth Parish Council of their original comments.  This is not a requested change but a change that would neaten an overhanging anomaly and assist with the implementation of new electoral arrangements. Given this and the small number of respondents against, it is agreed that the boundary change does go ahead to make the Parish and District boundaries coterminous.

The Tendring District (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2018 has now be made to bring into effect the change in St Osyth parish boundary as agreed by Council.

The terms of reference for both reviews are attached in the links below:

Terms of reference - St Osyth
Terms of reference - Harwich

Useful links and documents

Guide to the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies(link is external)

Eastern Region Initial and Revised Proposals

Contact

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