Agenda item

The Council were informed that, in March 2022, the Local Government Boundary Commission initiated an Electoral Review of Staffordshire. The rationale for undertaking an Electoral Review was both due to the County’s changing population which had led to electoral inequality, and the length of time since the last review.  There were two key stages to an Electoral Review: Stage 1 – which considered the Council Size; and Stage 2 – which considered division arrangements.  Stage 1 commenced in June 2022 and the County Council was required to submit its Council Size submission to the Boundary Commission by 11 November 2022.

Members noted that the Council’s Submission proposed that the County Council:

a)   Retains the current council size of 62 Elected Members

b)  Requests a single Member per division review

The evidence outlined in the Submission demonstrated that the current council size of 62 Elected Members supported the Council to efficiently and effectively undertake the three key aspects the Boundary Commission considered when considering Council Size:

(i) Strategic Leadership – how many Elected Members were required to give strategic leadership and direction to the authority?

(ii) Accountability – how many Elected Members were required to provide scrutiny to the authority? How many Elected Members were required to meet the regulatory requirements of the authority?

(iii) Community Leadership – how the representation role of Elected members in the local community was discharged and how they engaged with people and conduct casework.

It was noted that the County Council’s current electoral arrangements included two Divisions with two Elected Members. The Submission outlined that these arrangements did not provide the most efficient conditions for community representation. Representing a larger electorate presented difficulties, and it was acknowledged that it could be difficult to split casework, and for electors to easily identify who ‘their Councillor’ was.  As such, it was proposed that that County Council requests a single member per division review.

Members were also informed that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the draft Council Submission on 13September 2022. The Committee agreed with the proposals within the Submission and feedback from the Committee had been incorporated into the Submission document.  Cabinet also considered the draft Council Size Submission on 21^st September and approved the Council Size proposals.

Councillor Winnington referred to the growth in the population of the County, with some electoral divisions having one and a half times the number of electors than the average.  He added that, although the proposal to retain the current Council size of 62 was sensible, it may be that some areas warranted an additional seat.  In response, Councillor Philip White indicated that the proposal to retain the current council size of 62 Elected Members was the minimum number the Council considered necessary and it may be that under stage 2 of the Review, which considered division arrangements, the case may be made for more electoral divisions.  Councillor Alan White encouraged all Members to participate in Stage 2 of the Review and he expressed his thanks to those members of staff who were supporting the review process.

Councillor Hussain expressed his support for the proposals contained in the report. 

Resolved – (a) That it be agreed that, within the Council Size Submission proposals, the County Council:

i)       Retains the current council size of 62 Elected Members

ii)      Requests a single member per division review

(b) That the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Corporate Services be authorised to finalise the details of the Council Size Submission prior to submitting it to the Boundary Commission.