At the request of the Council, the Assistant Director – Corporate and Business Services to present her report on statistical and benchmarking information in connection with a potential review of the ward boundaries in Torbay.

The Deputy Mayor (Executive Lead for Health and Wellbeing and Corporate Services) to attend to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board to make recommendations to the Council on whether a review of ward boundaries and/or the number of councillors is required at this time.

Following a request made at the meeting of the Council held on 10 December 2015, a report containing statistical and benchmarking information was considered in order for the Board to determine whether it should recommend that a review of the current ward boundaries and/or number of councillors should be undertaken.

It was reported that, since the report had been prepared, further discussions had been held with the Boundary Commission.  Given the number of new residential developments which had recently been completed in Torbay, the Commission would be adding a review of Torbay’s boundaries into its work programme for 2017/2018.  The Board was advised that, if the Council requested that a review be undertaken, the Council would have more control over when the work would start meaning that the associated workload could be programmed accordingly.

Resolved:  that the Board recommend to the Council that it requests the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to undertake a review of the ward boundaries in Torbay but, at this stage, the Board do not believe there is a need to review the overall number of councillors.

Members considered a motion in relation to a proposed electoral review on the number of Councillors for Torbay Council, notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

It was proposed by Councillor (S) Darling and seconded by Councillor Carter:

The Council notes that the last Electoral Review for Torbay Council was carried out in 2001.  Since that time there has been:

·         a continuous reduction in the number of staff resulting in a reduction from 1455 full time equivalent staff in March 2010 to 890 full time equivalent staff in October 2015;

·         a number of significant changes in the way the Council operates, in particular the establishment of the:

·         Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) for adult social care and health and

·         proposed transfer of Children’s Services into the ICO

·         the development of the Torbay Development Agency and continuation Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust

·         commissioning of services such as the contract with TOR2; and

·         the growth of academy schools in Torbay which have left only a residual Local Education Authority function. 

The change to the way the Council now operates means that there is reduced engagement for Councillors as many of the operational decisions are made outside of the Council chamber. 

Therefore, this Council resolves:

that the Assistant Director of Corporate and Business Services be requested to develop a business case for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England requesting an electoral review to reduce the number of Councillors in Torbay to come into effect from May 2019.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Tyerman and seconded by Councillor Bent:

Therefore, this Council resolves:

(i)         that, following the referendum next May which will establish the preferred form of Governance for Torbay to take effect from 2019, the Assistant Director of Corporate and Business Services be requested to prepare a report identifying:

(a)       the respective populations and number of Councillors in other small unitary Councils using a similar form of governance;

(b)       detail of the number of voters per Councillor in each ward in Torbay together with a forecast of how that might change through housing development by May 2019;  and

(c)        which functions of the Council have been externalised since the formation of Torbay Unitary Authority, resulting in a significant reduction of senior officers from 28 to 9, for example growth of academy schools and Integrated Care Organisation;  and

(ii)        that such report should be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Board by July 2016 such that they can make recommendations to Council on whether a review of Boundaries and/or the number of Councillors is required at this time.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared carried (unanimous).

The substantive motion (the original motion with the new resolution) was then before Members for consideration.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was declared carried (unanimous).