Agenda and minutes

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services to note any changes to the membership

1.1       There were no changes to the membership.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

2.1       There were no declarations of interest.

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2014.

3.1       The chairman, with the consent of the members present, signed the minutes of the meeting held on the 5 November 2014 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (attached).

4.1       Martin Pyroyiannos introduced the report which set out the conclusions of investigations in respect of outstanding matters relating to the review of polling district and polling places that was requested by the committee at its meeting on the 5 November 2014.

4.2       Officers were asked to carry out some further investigation in respect of the recommendation made in the 5 November Committee Report to change the CHA ( Churchill ) polling place from Churchill Gardens Youth Club, Churchill Gardens Estate to Churchill Gardens Residents Hall, Churchill Gardens Estate on the basis that the Residents Hall is more accessible than the Youth Club as it is closer to main roads and bus stops. This was based in part on feedback from residents to polling station staff at previous elections. The committee was supportive of the change believing that the Residents Hall would be easier for voters to find and provide better disabled access than the existing station. However, members requested that the newly proposed station is well advertised to people living on the estate.

4.3       Officers were also asked to investigate whether the polling district boundaries within three wards, Maida Vale, Hyde Park, and Knightsbridge and Belgravia, could be redrawn to provide better provision for voters and to effect a more even distribution of voters across individual polling districts. Mr Pyroyiannos provided an update on ward member responses to the revised proposals set out in the report which were noted by members.

4. 4      In respect of the polling district boundaries of the Hyde Park ward the committee asked that the HPA polling district be amended to include Eastbourne and Westbourne Terrace/Mews. In terms of the new polling place that will need to be identified for a newly created HPC polling district, Councillor Davis suggested that officers should make enquiries about potential vacant space with Richard Banks of European Land. Councillor Caplan also identified two developments that when completed could also offer possibilities.

4.5       With regard to the Knightsbridge & Belgravia ward, the committee was unconvinced by the proposed boundary line between the KBA and KBB polling districts and requested that officers re-look at this. The use of the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) as a polling station for the KBB polling district was discussed. The committee raised concern about the previous location of the polling station within the site and identifed the most appropriate part of the building to use, particularly in terms of easy access from Exhibition Road, which it requested should be discussed with Imperial College.

4.6       The committee discussed the polling stations in the Maida Vale ward. Members expressed concern at the use of the Paddington Sports Centre as the proposed polling place for the MVC polling district due to the long walking distance to the polling station from the street. The committee agreed with officers that the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Lauderdale Road is preferred and they requested that officers continue negotiations with the Synagogue about its use. The committee also asked officers to keep in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.