Review of Parliamentary Constituency Polling Districts and Polling Places
Perth and Kinross Council · 6 December 2023
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Perth & Kinross Council 6 December 2023 REVIEW OF PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES Contact Officer: Scott Walker, Strategic Lead – Finance & Business Support (Report No. 23/344) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report seeks the Council’s views on proposed changes to the parliamentary polling districts and polling places within the area of Perth and Kinross following the recent statutory review. 1.2 The report also provides an update on the polling districts and polling places that will come into effect following the next dissolution of the UK Parliament. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Council is asked to - A. Note the contents of the report B. Endorse the proposals for the designation of polling districts and polling places as set out in Appendix 1 to this report that come into immediate effect. C. Endorse the proposals for the designation of polling districts and polling places as set out in Appendix 2 to this report that come into place following the next dissolution of the UK Parliament 3. STRUCTURE Section 4 – Background Section 5 – Proposals – Pre-Dissolution of UK Parliament Section 6 – Proposals – Post – Dissolution of UK parliament Section 7 - Conclusions 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Electoral Administration Act 2006 (EAA 2006) introduced a duty on all local authorities to review their UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places at least once every four years. 4.2 The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (ERA 2013) introduced a new provision altering the timing of compulsory reviews. The compulsory review periods are now the period of 16 months beginning with 1
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October 2013 and the period of 16 months beginning with 1 October every fifth year after that. This means that all local authorities will have to conduct (and complete) a statutory review of polling districts and polling places between 1 October 2023 and 31 January 2025. 4.3 Reviews of local government polling arrangements should be conducted simultaneously with a review of polling districts and polling places for UK Parliamentary elections. The aim of the review is to ensure that every elector in Perth and Kinross has such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable, and to ensure that so far as possible, the accessibility needs of persons with a disability have been considered when designating polling places. 4.4 The location of proposed polling districts and places is the responsibility of Perth & Kinross Council, and the location of polling stations is the responsibility of the Returning Officer. However, for the purpose of this review, all aspects of the process have been undertaken jointly. 5. PROPOSALS – PRE-DISSOLUTION OF UK PARLIAMENT 5.1 The statutory consultation period ran from 5 October to 16 November 2023. During this period any registered elector, the Returning Officer for the relevant parliamentary constituencies within the local government area, Members of Parliament, Members of the Scottish Parliament, Members of Perth & Kinross Council and persons who are considered to have particular expertise in relation to access to polling premises or facilities for persons who have different forms of disability, are able to make comment on the proposals. 5.2 Appendix 1 to this report details the existing polling arrangements within various polling districts and included the proposed changes that formed part of the statutory consultation. 5.3 During the statutory consultation period, the Council received a number of comments, and these are set out on an individual ward basis as follows. WARD 1 5.4 The consultation exercise included a proposal to merge PBE with PBD. The rationale behind this proposal is that these registers already both operate from Inchture Village Hall, and given the combined size of the electorate, these numbers can be contained within one register. 5.5 No representations were received in relation to this proposal. WARD 5 5.6 The consultation exercise included a proposal to relocate PCQ (Royal School of Dunkeld) to the local Guide Hall, which is located on the other side of the street. The rationale behind this proposal was to minimise disruption within
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the school during an election. The Guide Hall has been visited and meets all the requirements. 5.7 No representations were received in relation to this proposal. 5.8 The consultation exercise also included a proposal to relocate SBD (Bertha Park High School) to a local community facility located adjacent to the school. The rationale behind this proposal was to minimise disruption within the school during an election. The use of Bertha Park High School as a polling place was always planned to be temporary pending the community facility becoming available. The community facility is now operational, has been visited and meets all the requirements. 5.9 No representations were received in relation to this proposal. WARD 11 5.10 Traditionally there was a separate polling place that served the needs of the Fairfield and wider area within Ward 11 (polling districts PLI and PLJ), operating from the local community centre. The last election to take place within this community centre was the UK General Election in 2017, after which both polling districts were moved to the Railway Staff Club. 5.11 A base within the local Kingdom Housing Association offices has now been identified as a potential replacement polling place for the Fairfield area. The venue has been visited and meets all the requirements. It is proposed that a new polling district is created for Fairfield residents, with the remaining electorate in PLI and PLJ continuing to vote at the Railway Staff Club. 5.12 No representations were received in relation to this proposal. WARD 12 5.13 Polling district PDA previously voted at Rodney Fitness Centre which is no longer available. It is proposed that Kinnoull Church Hall is appointed as the replacement polling place. The venue has been visited and meets all requirements. 5.14 No representations were received in relation to this proposal. 5.15 There were two representations received relating to PCV (Riverside Church). North Muirton Community Council and one local elected member suggested that the local community centre would be a more appropriate venue for the following reasons - access, parking and location. However, there are no issues with the current venue and therefore it is proposed that there is no change to PCV (Riverside Church). 5.16 A number of general representations have been received from the following bodies, all of whom support the proposals around the wider review set out in Appendix 1 –
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• Glenfarg Community Council • Blair Atholl Community Council • Perth and Kinross Conservative and Unionist Association 5.17 Subject to approval by Council, these proposals come into immediate effect and would be in place should there be a by election for a UK parliamentary constituency. 6. PROPOSALS – POST-DISSOLUTION OF UK PARLIAMENT 6.1 The Boundary Commission for Scotland published its 2023 Final Recommendations for United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Scotland on 28 June 2023. 6.2 The Commission’s 2023 Review Report was submitted to the Speaker of the House of Commons and to the Secretary of State for Scotland on 27 June 2023 and laid before the UK Parliament on 28 June 2023. 6.3 With the Boundary Order being made on 15 November 2023 and coming into force from 29 November 2023, the new boundaries take effect at the next UK General Election following dissolution of the UK Parliament. 6.4 At future UK Parliament elections, the electorate across Perth and Kinross will vote in one of the following UK Parliamentary Constituencies – • Angus and Perthshire Glens • Perth and Kinross-shire • Stirling and Strathallan 6.5 Set out in Appendix 2 is the list of polling places and polling districts that will come into place on dissolution of the UK Parliament and which constituency they will sit. 6.6 How individual wards across Perth and Kinross are impacted are set out in the following table.
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Constituency Name PKC Ward Angus and Perthshire Glens 2 (part) Strathmore 3 Blairgowrie and Glens 4 Highland 5 (part) Strathtay Perth and Kinross-shire 1 Carse of Gowrie 2(part) Strathmore 5(part) Strathtay 6 Strathearn 7(part) Strathallan 8 Kinross-shire 9 Almond and Earn 10 Perth City South 11 Perth City North 12 Perth City Centre Stirling and Strathallan 7(part) Strathallan 6.7 The changes to individual polling districts following the introduction of the boundary changes from the 2023 Review are set out below. Ward 2 6.8 Within PBS (Robert Douglas Memorial Institute, Scone), which sits within the new constituency of Perth and Kinross-shire, there is a small area known as Stormontfield Fish Ponds, which moves to the new Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency. It is proposed that this small area is moved to neighbouring parliamentary polling district PBR (Guildtown Hall). 6.9 Also, within PBS (Robert Douglas Memorial Institute, Scone), the end of Muirward Wood now sits within the new Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency. It is proposed that this area is moved to the neighbouring parliamentary polling district PBQ (Balbeggie Hall) - no electors are involved in this move. 6.10 Within PBR (Guildtown Hall), which sits within the new constituency of Angus and Perthshire Glens, an area known as Ardgilzean, falls within the Perth and Kinross-shire constituency. It is proposed that this is area is moved to PBS (Robert Douglas Memorial Institute, Scone) - no electors are involved in this move. 6.11 Within PBQ (Balbeggie Hall) that sits in the Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency, Morningside Farm House now falls within the Perth and Kinross- shire constituency. It is proposed that this area is moved to PBS (Robert Douglas Memorial Institute, Scone).
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Ward 7 6.12 SLI (Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder) predominantly falls within the new constituency of Perth and Kinross-shire. However, there is an area around Tullibardine Wood and West Third House that falls within the new Stirling and Strathallan constituency. It is proposed that this area is moved to the neighbouring parliamentary polling district SLM (Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder) within the Stirling and Strathallan constituency. This does create the issue of Aytoun Hall being a multi-constituency polling place which will be managed by elections teams and staff at the polling place. 6.13 SLM (Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder) predominantly falls within the new Stirling and Strathallan constituency. There is an area known as Westerton, Maidenplan Farmhouse and Woodlands Farm that now falls within the new Perth and Kinross-shire constituency. It is proposed that this area is moved to the neighbouring parliamentary polling district SLQ (Dunning Church Hall) within the Perth and Kinross-shire constituency. 6.14 SLP (Aberuthven Hall) predominantly falls within the new Stirling and Strathallan constituency. There is an area around Dalreoch and Masterfield which now falls within the new Perth and Kinross-shire constituency. It is proposed that this area is moved to the neighbouring parliamentary polling district SLQ (Dunning Church Hall) within the Perth and Kinross-shire constituency. 7. CONCLUSIONS 7.1 This report sets out the outcomes of the recent statutory review of polling districts and polling places which are set out Appendix 1. 7.2 The report also sets out the polling districts and polling places that will come in to effect following the next dissolution of the UK Parliament which are set out in Appendix 2. Author(s) Name Designation Contact Details Scott Walker Election Manager Ext. 75515 swwalker@pkc.gov.uk Christine Grant Senior Elections & Community Council Manager Ext. 75182 Approved Name Designation Date Thomas Glen Chief Executive 24 November 2023
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce No Asset Management (land, property, IST) No Assessments Equality Impact Assessment No Strategic Environmental Assessment No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) No Legal and Governance Yes Risk Consultation Internal External Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 The Council’s Corporate Plan 2022 – 2027 lays out seven outcome focussed strategic objectives which provide clear strategic direction, inform decisions at a corporate and service level and shape resources allocation. They are as follows: • Tackling poverty • Tackling climate change and supporting sustainable places • Growing a sustainable and inclusive local economy • Enabling our children and young people to achieve their full potential • Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people • Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing • Placing communities at the heart of how we work 1.2 This report relates to all these objectives. 2. Resource Implications 2.1 The resource implications of this report are not yet available but any change is unlikely to be significant.
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3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The proposals in this report have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcomes: • The proposals to combine parliamentary polling districts allocated to the same parliamentary polling place comply with the relevant legislation in relation to accessibility • In relation to the proposals not to allocate individual electors or very small groups of electors to a polling place outwith their electoral ward, it is acknowledged that some electors may experience inconvenience but there will be publicity in advance of any election/referendum to promote the availability of postal voting as an alternative to voting in person. Legal and Governance 3.2 The legal framework for this report is contained within the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (EAA 2006) and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (ERA 2013) Risk 3.2 There are no key risks associated with the proposals which have not been addressed elsewhere in the report. 4. Consultation 4.2 Representations were invited on any aspect of the allocated polling districts and polling places as set out in Appendix 1 to this report and are included within the main body of the report. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 The following background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report. Representation of the People Act 1983 Schedule A1 The Review of Polling District and Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006 Electoral Administration Act 2006
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Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (ERA 2013) 3. APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Report detailing the existing polling arrangements within various polling districts and sets out revised proposals for the designation of polling districts and polling places that will take immediate effect. Appendix 2 – Report detailing the existing polling arrangements within various polling districts and sets out revised proposals for the designation of polling districts and polling places that will come into being at the next dissolution of the UK Parliament.