The Electoral Services Manager presented a report which advised that on 12 May 2015 the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had issued a consultation document on its draft proposals for new county council division boundaries for Kent County Council (KCC). The review was being conducted as KCC currently had high levels of electoral inequality where some councillors represented many more or many fewer voters than others. The aims of the review were to improve electoral equality, reflect community identities and provide for effective and convenient local government. There was proposed to be a reduction of one division and one member for representation within the Sevenoaks District.

The consultation period was due to end on 6 July (an eight-week period) which would not have allowed time for a formal response from this Council without special meetings of Governance Committee and Full Council being called. The Chief Executive had written to the LGBCE who had agreed to an extension to 22 July (the day after full Council on 21 July 2015) on the basis that a draft of what would be considered by Council on that date could be sent to them by 6 July and notified on 22 July of any changes made at Council. To this effect the report had been considered by the Legal & Democratic Advisory Committee on 2 July 2015 in order to inform the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Governance and allow a holding response to be sent.  The minute from that meeting was tabled along with the holding response which had been sent, expressing that meeting’s preference for alternative option 3.

Members considered and discussed all the proposals , in particular whether they agreed with the preference given in the holding response.

With regards to the alternative option 3 it was  noted that it made sense for the denser population centres of Swanley and Sevenoaks to be clearly represented by single County Council members while Westerham would fit neatly into an “A25 corridor” division together with Brasted and Sundridge with Ide Hill. The suggested Sevenoaks Rural North East division, in this option, appeared a cohesive area. It was agreed that the Rural designations of Sevenoaks Rural South and Sevenoaks Rural North East helped to provide distinction for these areas from Sevenoaks Town.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that Council confirm the holding response sent to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on 3 July 2015 with alternative option 3, along with the alternative proposed division names also detailed on that map, as the preferred option.