NORTH DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL

ELECTORAL REVIEW

STAGE TWO - RESPONSE TO WARDING CONSULTATION

SUBMISSION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION – FEBRUARY 2018

1 Introduction 1.1 The District Council’s warding submission was based on an anticipated

number of Councillors of 41. The LGBC have now confirmed that the number of Councillors is likely to be 42 and have published warding proposals based on that figure.

1.2 The District Council has considered the published warding proposals through

two Council meetings and a meeting of a specially created Working Group 1.3 In preparing this response, the Council has had regard to the LGBC guidance

and has taken account of:- 1.5.1 Equality of representation 1.5.2 Community identities and interests, and 1.5.3 Providing for convenient and effective local government.

2. Response 2.1 Overall, the District Council is supportive of the proposals published by the

LGBC. However, there are a small number of areas where the Council feel changes should be made. These are set out below.

2.2 Barnstaple

The published proposal was for 4 wards within Barnstaple with 2 wards having three members, 1 having two and 1 being a single member ward. Councillors were concerned that there should be a more even spread of Councillors within Barnstaple and so an alternative proposal has been created. The boundaries of these wards are shown on the attached plan and the Table details which polling districts, or parts of polling districts are included within each ward. These suggested wards fit the tolerance levels. Braunton/Heanton Punchardon The published proposal showed the inclusion of the Heanton Punchardon area within a Braunton South ward and the inclusion of the Georgeham/Croyde area into a Braunton North ward. Members were keen to try to keep the existing East/West split so far as possible and to create a separate ward for Heanton Punchardon. A revised warding pattern has therefore been prepared and again this is shown on the attached plan and detailed in the Table. This creates a single seat ward for Heanton Punchardon and 2 two member wards for Braunton. Bishops Nympton/Witheridge The draft proposal showed 1 two member ward covering both Bishops Nympton and Witheridge. Members felt that the land area covered by this predominantly rural ward was too large and were therefore keen to split the ward into two manageable wards. Again the proposal for this is shown on the plans and detailed on the table. The Bishops Nympton ward includes a small part of polling district AX with 25 electors and is also proposed to include Romansleigh. This is supported by the local community.

George Nympton and Queens Nympton The George Nympton and Queens Nympton Parish Council are very keen to be included as part of the Bishops Nympton ward. They have submitted a strong representation which indicates that the parish is rural in nature and has more rural issues. It is accepted that accepting this would mean that the South Molton ward would be slightly over the tolerance level, but as indicated in the Council’s earlier submission, the difference is marginal and is likely to be made up with further development. Combe Martin Combe Martin is proposed to sit within a ward that extends to the outskirts of Barnstaple. It has no relationship with Marwood to the south of the ward and has no direct transport links. When making its original submission, the Council looked at ways in which Combe Martin could be accommodated as a ward in itself but found that it exceeded the tolerance. In the report prepared by the LGBC, it invites representations to be made by the community on this issue. Combe Martin Parish Council, the Tourist Association and a local resident have all contacted the Council to support the creation of a separate ward for Combe Martin. It is accepted that this would exceed the tolerance by a marginal amount but the Council would urge the LGBC to consider this proposal.

3. Community Representations 3.1 The Council has received a number of representations from members of the

public and Parish Councils since the publication of the LGBC proposals. These are included as part of this response.

3.2 Some of those representations support the changes that are requested in

relation to Combe Martin and George Nympton and Queens Nympton. The LGBC is urged to take those representations into account and to accept the requested changes.

14th February 2018

Table Polling Districts Forecast Pop. Number of Cllrs

and Proportion Barnstaple Pilton DG, AE & AD 4183 2 - 2092 Newport AJ, AN, AO, CZ,

AM & CY(pt) 4214 2 - 2107

Yeo Vale AF, AG, AI(2) & AH

3953 2 - 1976

Central with Whiddon Valley

AK, AJ, AL, AI(1), AP, AQ, AR & CY (pt)

6573 3 - 2191

Braunton Braunton West and Georgeham

CC, CD, BG, BE & BF

3983 2 - 1992

Braunton East BD, BF, BB & BC 4033 2 - 2017 Heanton Punchardon

CH, CG & AB 1828 1 - 1828

Bishops Nympton

DU, DH, AW, DV, CX, BS, ED & AX (pt)

1906 1 - 1906

Witheridge DK, BW, EG, DS & DT

1979 1 - 1979