To consider a report of the Governance Committee

In consequence of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, the Boundary Commission for England had published proposals for the realignment of the Borough’s Parliamentary Constituencies. There would be two Constituencies within the borough, Hornchurch & Upminster and Romford, but with radically different boundaries to the existing Constituencies, and one Constituency, Dagenham North, comprising a number of Wards in Barking & Dagenham, together with the Brooklands and Mawneys Wards.

The Governance Committee, having considered the proposals, had recommended that the Council advise the Boundary Commission that its proposals were unacceptable and suggest an alternative alignment building on the existing Constituency boundaries.

Amendment on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council resolves to write to the Boundary Commission for England in support of their proposals that restore the original Parliamentary constituency of Hornchurch, which includes Upminster and Rainham and whose borders are mostly the same as the historic Hornchurch Urban District Council.

After debate of the recommendations of the Governance Committee, the Independent Residents’ Group amendment was LOST by 33 votes to 14 (division 3). The Committee’s recommendations were then AGREED by 33 votes to 12 (division 4).

RESOLVED:

That the Boundary Commission for England be advised that, while the Council recognises the statutory requirement to balance electorates within the electoral quota, in its view the Commission is wrong to disregard both existing, strong local community ties and the fact that there was significant change to constituency boundaries as recently as May 2010; and accordingly the Council urges that:

(a)               The Hornchurch & Upminster constituency should retain its existing boundaries, on the grounds that it has an existing electorate within the electoral quota;

(b)              The Romford Constituency should retain its existing boundaries within the borough and that the Chadwell Heath ward of the Borough of Baking & Dagenham should be added to it in order to achieve an electorate within the electoral quota, on the grounds that:

i.              the Brooklands ward contains a significant proportion of the Romford Town Centre area and it would be wholly inappropriate for such a significant area to be within a constituency known only as “Dagenham North”;

ii.            there are several major public facilities particularly associated with Romford in Brooklands Ward, such as The Queens Hospital and Romford Greyhound Stadium and it would be wholly inappropriate for such facilities to be within a “Dagenham North” constituency; and

iii.          Chadwell Heath is considered part of Romford for Post Office purposes and, indeed, is often thought erroneously to be part of Havering; and

(c)       The Dagenham & Rainham Constituency should retain its existing boundaries, other than Chadwell Heath ward, and that further wards from Barking & Dagenham should be added to it (rather than Havering wards) in order to bring its electorate within the electoral quota.