Agenda item

Consider Motion by Councillor McAteer in the following terms:-

"That Scottish Borders Council agrees to write to the Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment, on behalf of the local communities in and around Hawick which are being penalised by the seeming disproportionate weighting of the methodology used by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS) for the 5th Review and the resultant proposed reduction in councillor numbers and significant changes to the existing Hawick ward areas.  While recognising the desirability for electoral parity, this should not be at the cost of breaking up communities or creating artificial ones.

The Minister is urged to reject any proposal to reduce both councillor numbers and wards in the Hawick area, and instead allow for a true reflection of the unique population and settlement distribution, and natural communities in and around Hawick, in accordance with the wishes of the local electorate. 

This letter should also be copied to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to allow the Commission to take this Motion into account when arriving at its final recommendations."

Councillor McAteer, seconded by Councillor Marshall, moved the Motion as detailed on the agenda in the following terms:-

“That Scottish Borders Council agrees to write to the Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment, on behalf of the local communities in and around Hawick which are being penalised by the disproportionate weighting of the methodology used by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS) for the 5th Review and the resultant proposed reduction in councillor numbers and significant changes to the existing Hawick ward areas.

The Council calls upon the Minister, when considering any LGBCS proposals, to reject the arbitrary maximum variation in electoral parity in the new wards of +/- 10% which places an artificial burden in particular on the Hawick area, failing to recognise that area's natural population and settlement distribution, geography, and its traditional social, economic and cultural connections.  The Minister is urged to reject any proposal to reduce both councillor numbers and wards in the Hawick area, and instead allow for a true reflection of the unique demographic, geographic and natural communities in and around Hawick, and the wishes of the local electorate. 

This letter should also be copied to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to allow the Commission to take this Motion into account when arriving at its final recommendations."

Councillor McAteer spoke in support of his Motion.  Members generally supported the motion but Councillors Turnbull and Cook suggested some amended wording for the second paragraph as follows:-

“The Council calls upon the Minister, when considering any LGBCS proposals, to reject the arbitrary maximum variation in electoral parity in the new wards of +/- 10% which places an artificial burden in particular on the Hawick area, failing to recognise that area's natural population and settlement distribution, geography, and its traditional social, economic and cultural connections.  The Minister is urged to reject any proposal to reduce councillor numbers in the Scottish Borders, and its consequential effect on the wards of the Hawick and Jedburgh area, and instead allow for a true reflection of the unique demographic, geographic and natural communities in and around Hawick, and the wishes of the local electorate.”

This amended wording was accepted by Councillor McAteer and the amended Motion was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED the Motion as follows:-

“That Scottish Borders Council agrees to write to the Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment, on behalf of the local communities in and around Hawick which are being penalised by the disproportionate weighting of the methodology used by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS) for the 5th Review and the resultant proposed reduction in councillor numbers and significant changes to the existing Hawick ward areas.

The Council calls upon the Minister, when considering any LGBCS proposals, to reject the arbitrary maximum variation in electoral parity in the new wards of +/- 10% which places an artificial burden in particular on the Hawick area, failing to recognise that area's natural population and settlement distribution, geography, and its traditional social, economic and cultural connections.  The Minister is urged to reject any proposal to reduce councillor numbers in the Scottish Borders, and its consequential effect on the wards of the Hawick and Jedburgh area, and instead allow for a true reflection of the unique demographic, geographic and natural communities in and around Hawick, and the wishes of the local electorate.

This letter should also be copied to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to allow the Commission to take this Motion into account when arriving at its final recommendations."