News Releases
Local electoral arrangements for Broxbourne finalised
2011-10-18T10:00:00+00:00
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for Broxbourne Borough Council.
Today’s publication follows a 10-week public consultation on its draft proposals and draws new boundaries for each council ward in Broxbourne. The draft recommendations, published in May 2011, provided for a council of 30 members (a reduction of eight from the current arrangements) and the Commission today confirms that figure in its final recommendations.
The Commission’s final report also confirms a pattern of ten three-member wards across the borough.
Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said, “We’re extremely grateful to the people of Broxbourne who took the time and effort to send us their views. The Commission considered every piece of evidence it received before finalising these recommendations.
“In response to the views submitted to us during the consultation, we are proposing some changes to the proposals we put forward in May. In particular, the Commission received excellent evidence from local people who disagreed with our proposals for a Goffs Oak & Bury Green ward. After considering all the evidence we received and visiting the area, our final recommendations propose a Goffs Oak ward which would comprise the settlement of Goffs Oak without the inclusion of Bury Green. Our proposals are in line with the views submitted to us by the council and reflect the interests and identities of communities in that part of Broxbourne.
“In turn, our proposed pattern of wards in the West of the borough now includes a Flamstead End ward and a Rosedale & Bury Green ward which is adjacent to Goffs Oak and which have strong boundaries and reflect community ties, transport links and usage of amenities by local people.
“Our recommendations for Broxbourne will deliver electoral equality for voters in Broxbourne where the value of your vote is similar regardless of where you live in the borough. We also believe that our final recommendations reflect, as far as possible, the identities and interests of local communities across Broxbourne.”
The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament. A draft Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the next few weeks. The draft Order provides for the new electoral arrangements to come into force at the next local elections for Broxbourne in May 2012.
Ends
For further information contact the Commission’s press office on: 0207 664 8530
or email: press@lgbce.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements, e.g. defining boundaries for local elections and the number of councillors to be elected and – separately - for conducting reviews of local government external boundaries and structure.
2. In its final recommendations, the Commission is proposing significant changes to its draft recommendations (published in May 2011) in the West of the borough in response to its consultation with local people and organisations as well as some minor amendments elsewhere in Broxbourne:
- The Commission is recommending to move away from its initial recommendation for a Goffs Oak & Bury Green ward in favour of a Goffs Oak ward which comprises the settlement of Goffs Oak and the area of Hammond Street to the South of Hammond Street Road.
- Consequently, the Commission is also proposing to adopt the proposal put forward by Broxbourne Borough Council for a Flamstead End ward (which would include the area of Hammond Street to the North of Hammond Street) as well as Flamstead End itself. The Commission also proposes a Rosedale & Bury Green ward whose boundary with Goffs Oak would be Lieutenant Ellis Way dual carriageway.
- The Commission’s final recommendations also proposed changing the name of Broxbourne ward in the north of the borough to Broxbourne & Hoddesdon South ward to reflect the fact that part of that ward is made up of the Hoddesdon community.
- The Commission also recommends a minor amendment to the proposed boundary between Cheshunt South & Theobalds and Waltham Cross wards where the railway line provides a stronger boundary than the Commission’s previous proposal to follow Winston Churchill Way and the High Street. The change means that Cedar Avenue, Hedworth Avenue and Lambton Avenue will now be included in the Cheshunt South & Theobalds ward and not Waltham Cross ward.
3. Full details of the Commission’s final recommendations (including maps) can be viewed at www.lgbce.org.uk .
4. The electoral review of Broxbourne Borough Council is a separate undertaking from the current review of parliamentary constituency boundaries which is being carried out by a separate body (Boundary Commission for England) under different rules and legislation.