Litcham Parish Council General Information Freedom of Information 2005 3.3. Periodic Electoral Review (Extract from final report of Boudary Review July 2002)

LITCHAM			*NORFOLK*		LAUNDITCH HUNDRED B R E C K L A N D
VILLAGE PAGES	PARISH COUNCIL	CHURCH	SHOPS etc..	SCHOOLS	THE COMMON	GENERAL INFORMATION
NEWS	MEETINGS	THE COUNCIL	PLANNING	ACCOUNTS	INFORMATION	ARCHIVES

Litcham Parish Council
Freedom of Information Act : Publication Scheme

3. Periodic Electoral Review
(Extract from final report of Boudary Review July 2002)

Beetley & Gressenhall, Hermitage, Launditch, Springvale and Taverner wards
1. The five wards of Beetley & Gressenhall, Hermitage, Launditch, Springvale and Taverner are situated in the north-west of the district and are each represented by a single councillor.
At present, Beetley & Gressenhall ward comprises the parishes of Beetley and Gressenhall while Hermitage ward comprises the parishes of Great Dunham, Lexham, Litcham, Kempstone, Rougham, Weasenham All Saints, Weasenham St Peters and Wellingham.
The current Launditch ward comprises the parishes of Beeston with Bittering, Longham, Mileham, Stanfield and Tittleshall. Springvale ward comprises the parishes of Fransham, Little Dunham, Scarning and Wending. Taverner ward comprises the parishes of Brisley, Colkirk, Horningtoft and Whissonsett.
Beetley & Gressenhall and Springvale wards are under-represented with 13% and 67% more electors per councillor than the district average respectively (10% more and 60% more by 2006). Hermitage, Launditch and Taverner wards are over-represented with 26% fewer, 13% fewer and 30% fewer electors per councillor than the district average respectively (29% fewer, 14% fewer and 32% fewer by 2006).
2. The District Council proposed combining the parish of Beetley (currently in Beetley & Gressenhall ward), the parish of Brisley (currently in Taverner ward) and the parish of Mileham (currently in Launditch ward) to form a revised single-member Taverner ward. It proposed combining the remaining part of the Beetley & Gressenhall ward, the parish of Gressenhall, with the parishes of Fransham and Wending (currently in Springvale ward) and the parish of Longham (currently in Launditch ward) to form a revised single-member Springvale ward.
Part of the remainder of the current Springvale ward, the parish of Little Dunham, would be combined with the parishes of Great Dunham, Kempstone, Lexham, Litcham and Rougham (currently in Hermitage ward) and the parish of Beeston with Bittering (currently in Launditch ward) to form a revised single-member Launditch ward.
The parish of Scarning would then comprise a new single-member Scarning ward. Finally, the remaining part of the current Launditch ward, the parishes of Stanfield and Tittleshall, the remaining part of the current Hermitage ward, the parishes of Weasenham All Saints, Weasenham St Peter and Wellingham
and the remaining part of the current Taverner ward, the parishes of Colkirk, Horningcroft and Whissonsett, would all be combined to form a revised single-member Hermitage ward. The
Council's proposals, based on a council size of 53, would result in the proposed Hermitage, Launditch, Scarning, Springvale and Taverner wards having 2% more, 6% fewer, 18% more,
5% fewer and 3% more electors per councillor than the district average respectively (equal to the average, 8% fewer, 14% more, 8% fewer and 1% more by 2006).
3. During the District Council's consultation process the parishes of Mileham and Brisley objected to the District Council's proposals for their respective parishes, with Mileham Parish Council expressing concern about the representation of smaller parishes where they are grouped with larger ones. In its submission the District Council stated that, 'It would be difficult to address these concerns without a knock-on-effect and, although these parishes will be used to groupings with others, they are situated closely together with no obvious natural barriers between them'.
4. The LGCE received one further representation. Colkirk Parish Council stated that, 'We would not wish to see any changes to the current arrangements'.
5. Having carefully considered the representations received, the LGCE decided to adopt the District Council's proposals for this area as part of its draft recommendations, subject to one amendment to improve electoral equality under a council size of 54. The Council's proposed Scarning ward would have 18% more electors than the district average (14% by 2006); therefore the LGCE proposed combining the proposed Scarning and Springvale wards to form a new two-member Springvale & Scarning ward. Under the proposed council size of 54, this would provide for a ward containing 8% more electors per councillor than the district average (5% more by 2006). The LGCE also noted the concerns raised about the regrouping of parishes in this area. However, it was unable to devise any viable alternatives in this area which would not have a detrimental effect on electoral equality.
6. Under the draft recommendations, based on a council size of 54, the proposed Hermitage, Launditch, Springvale & Scarning and Taverner wards would have 4% more, 5% fewer, 8% more and 5% more electors per councillor than the district average respectively (2% more, 6% fewer, 5% more and 3% more by 2006).
published on 30 July 2002 by the Boundary Committee of England July 2002.

Back to Council Information Menu

Updated 22/2/06 managed by John Relph