Under new rules laid down by Parliament, there is a Parliamentary constituency boundaries review being undertaken by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE). The results of the review must be reported to Parliament by 2013, but the deadline for responding to the consultation is Monday 5th December 2011.
The BCE has undertaken a study of the Parliamentary constituency boundaries, and put forward a proposal that it feels will meet the guidelines it was given for forming the basis of the review. The bad news is that our South Cambridgeshire District which will all know and love in its current composition, may be about to change forever as a result of the current proposals put forward by the BCE.
What is the purpose of the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review?
The two main reasons why the BCE is carrying out the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review are:
- to reduce the total number of constituencies from 533 to 502
- to make sure that each constituency contains approximately a similar number of registered electors
The BCE has determined that the nominal electoral quota for each constituency should be 76,641, and that the number of electors in every constituency must be within 5% of this figure. This means that in reality, the minimum number of electors will be 72,810 and the maximum will be 80,473.
The initial BCE proposals for the Parliamentary constituency boundaries reiew has been put to the public, and the BCE is asking for our views, which they claim will inform the final proposal to Parliament in 2013.
What is the effect of the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review on SCDC?
In the Eastern Region which has an electorate of 4,280,707, the initial proposal is to reduce the current constituencies by 2, from 58 to 56. One will be lost from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, and one from Essex. Nine (9) of those 56 will be left unchanged, and have no tinkering done to them at all. However, all the other constituencies have lots of tinkering being applied to them! Infact, its not just tinkering, its a major overhaul!!
The Initial proposals report for the Eastern Region states that:
41. We propose no change to the existing Cambridge constituency. While the existing Huntingdon and South Cambridgeshire constituencies have electorates that are within 5% of the electoral quota, we are proposing changes to both these constituencies in order to accommodate changes that are required to the North East Cambridgeshire, North West Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South East Cambridgeshire constituencies.
42. As we propose to retain the existing Cambridge constituency, the Queen Edith’s ward of the City of Cambridge remains in our proposed South Cambridgeshire constituency together with 22 wards from the District of South Cambridgeshire. We propose that the remaining 12 wards of the District of South Cambridgeshire be included in a new St Neots constituency, with ten wards from the south of the District of Huntingdonshire.
We are to be moved, despite the fact that our electorate numbers fall within the margins of the new threshold! Those 12 wards being moved to the new St Neots constituency include …… you guessed it Caldecote, as well as Comberton, Hardwick, Bourn, Papworth, Bar Hill, Swavesey, Willingham and Over, Longstanton, Gamlingay, Bassingbourn and The Mordens, as shown in the proposed St Neots constituency map.
Send in Your Views on the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review.
The BCE is encouraging everyone to send in their views and comments, whether in support of the proposals or against them. If you have strong views against the proposals, then it would be worth making alternative recommendations or suggestions. The BCE would like to know:
- if you agree partly or in full or not at all with the initial proposals for our region
- which sug-regions you agree with and why
- which sub-regions you disagree with and why
- your proposal for alternatives for the areas you disagree with that meet the statutory rules set out in their report
So have your say, before the opportunity goes away. Send in your responses using one of the following methods:
- online using the online form
- by email to reviews@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
- by writing to Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ
Consultation Deadline is Monday 5th December 2011.
Have your say, and save South Cambridgeshire District from being broken up.
You can read more on the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review, at the Boundary Commission of England website.
Don’t forget to pass on the news of the Parliamentary constituency boundaries review to your friends and neighbours in the area.