To consider the submitted report on a review of the Council’s warding patterns.

Further to Council Minute 161/2/17, members considered the submitted report on the Council’s consultation response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s (LGBCE) formal review of the proposed warding patterns for Torbay from 2019.  It was noted the consultation was based on an indicative number of Councillors for Torbay of 36 and where possible ensuring there was an equal number of electors per Councillor across Torbay.

Mayor Oliver proposed and Councillor Mills seconded a motion as set out below:

(i)         that the Proposed Changes to Warding Patterns – Submission by Torbay Council set out in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report be approved for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;

(ii)        that the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be requested to redraw the 15 Ward maps using GIS to show the changes to the warding patterns reflected in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report;  and

(iii)       that the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be authorised to make any technical amendments to address any anomalies identified when redrawing the Ward maps.

During the debate Councillor Morey proposed and Councillor Kingscote seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

that the submitted report on the Review of Electoral Arrangements – Submission by Torbay Council on Warding Patterns be deferred to an extraordinary meeting of the Council, to be arranged in August 2017 and prior to the LGBCE deadline of 14 August 2017, to allow time for further consideration and co-operation between members in an attempt to achieve a proposal that is widely supported.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Bent, Carter, Darling (M), Darling (S), Doggett, Ellery, Excell, Hill, Kingscote, Morey, O’Dwyer, Parrott, Pentney, Sanders, Stockman, Stocks, Sykes and Tolchard (18);  Against:  Councillors Amil, Barnby, Bye, Haddock, King, Lewis (B), Lewis (C), Manning, Mills, Robson, Thomas (D), Tyerman and Winfield (13);  Abstain:  Mayor Oliver, Councillors Brooks and Thomas (J) (3);  Absent:  Councillors Morris, Stringer and Stubley (3).  Therefore, the amendment was declared carried.

The amended (substantive) motion was then considered by members, which was agreed by the Council as follows:

that the submitted report on the Review of Electoral Arrangements – Submission by Torbay Council on Warding Patterns be deferred to an extraordinary meeting of the Council, to be arranged in August 2017 and prior to the LGBCE deadline of 14 August 2017, to allow time for further consideration and co-operation between members in an attempt to achieve a proposal that is widely supported.