Agenda item

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic on the review of polling districts and polling places to meet the requirement to undertake a compulsory review every five years.

The committee considered the report of the head of legal and democratic on proposals for polling districts and polling places following a periodic review required by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.

The report highlighted that interim reviews of polling districts and particularly polling places had been proactively undertaken since the previous compulsory review completed in October 2019, including prior to the district and parish elections in May 2023 and prior to the Police and Crime Commissioner and Parliamentary elections in 2024. For the majority of arrangements no issues had been raised as part of this review as detailed in the report and appendices.

The committee was advised of a further representation from St Birinus School in respect of the potential use of Didcot Leisure Centre as a polling place. As part of the joint use agreement with the leisure centre, the school could use the main sports hall for GCSE exams, which usually commence in the first week of May, which could clash with scheduled elections. In addition, the school expressed concern regarding the capacity and logistics of the car park to accommodate the needs of electors and the impact on school buses and cars during the school day. 

In response to questions and comments, officers confirmed that they had undertaken site visits to the proposed polling places and ensured the venues would be available for booking, that the sharing of polling places for two or more district ward/county division elections was best avoided if possible. The council had a duty to designate a polling place for each polling district if a suitable venue existed and that a reduction in polling places based on cost or climate impacts were not acceptable criteria. No analysis had been undertaken to determine whether the location and/or accessibility of a polling station impacted turn-out. Turnout at polling stations was available and could be provided to members. Officers undertook to provide data from the recent elections. Officers noted that a community facility was planned for the Highlands Farm site in Henley which might be a suitable venue for a polling place in the future. Any changes to polling station venues would be highlighted on poll cards.

The committee noted that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) Electoral Review of Oxfordshire might require further changes to the designation of polling districts and polling places. The committee requested a meeting in January to consider this and any impacts on parish arrangements.

Committee members were supportive of the schedule of polling districts and polling places set out in paragraph 31 of the report. In respect of the concerns raised by St Birinus School, the committee agreed to proceed with the designation recognising that if there were a clash with the use of the main hall for exams, a temporary alternative polling place could be designated.

RESOLVED: 

1.    To continue to designate of Waterperry Gardens Limited as the polling place for polling district LEG - Waterperry with Thomley.

2.    To designate Goring Community Centre as the polling place for polling district LGA2 - Goring on Thames.

3.    To continue to designate Stadhampton Village Hall as the polling place for polling district LHF - Stadhampton.

4.    To designate Lewknor Village Hall as the polling place for polling district LHH - Wheatfield.

5.    To continue to designate Henley Leisure Centre as the polling place for polling district LIA2 - Henley 2 (North).

6.    To continue to designate Henley Leisure Centre as the polling place for polling district LIA4 – Henley 4 (South).

7.    To designate Shiplake Memorial Hall as the polling place for polling district LMA – Binfield Heath.

8.    To merge the current polling districts of LOD1 and LOD2 to form polling district LOD (Pyrton) and designate Pyrton Village Hall as the polling place. 

9.    To merge the current polling districts of LOE1 and LOE2 to form polling district LOE (Shirburn) and designate Pyrton Village Hall as the polling place. 

10. To merge the current polling districts of LOH1 and LOH2 to form polling district LOH (Watlington) and designate Watlington Parish Office as the polling place. 

11. To continue to designate Stoke Row Village Hall as the polling place for polling district LPC - Highmoor.

12.To continue to designate The Crown Public House as the polling place for polling district RAH – South Moreton.

13.To divide the current polling district RBA1 into two polling districts, RBA1 and RBA3, using the A4130 and Lady Grove as dividing roads, as shown in appendix E to the report of the head of legal and democratic to the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee meeting of 18 November 2024 and designate Ladygrove Community Centre as the polling place for both polling districts until a suitable alternative venue is available for polling district RBA3.

14.To designate Didcot Leisure Centre as the polling place for polling district RCA1 – Didcot no.4 (Northbourne).

15. To divide the current polling district RCA2 into two polling districts, RCA2 and RCA4, as shown in appendix F to the report of the head of legal and democratic to the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee meeting of 18 November 2024 and designate the polling places as below: 

·       RCA2 – Edmond’s Park Pavillion;

·       RCA4 – Great Western Park Southern Community Centre.

16. To designate King Alfred Drive Community Centre as the polling place for polling district RCA3 – Didcot No.6 (Orchard).

17. To designate Didcot Methodist Church as the polling place for polling district RDB – Didcot No.9 (Northbourne).

18. To continue to designate Wallingford Scout Group as the polling place for polling district RFA1 – Wallingford No.1.

19. To divide the current polling district RFA2 geographically North and South into two polling districts, RFA2 and RFA3, as shown in appendix G to the report of the head of legal and democratic to the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee meeting of 18 November 2024 and designate the polling places as below:

·       RFA2 – St Mary’s Church;

·       RFA3 – Centre 70.