Agenda item

The report before the Council outlined the outcomes of a review of the existing arrangements for the Borough’s polling districts and polling places.  The review was a requirement placed on all local Authorities responsible for elections and had to be completed by no later than 31 January 2025.

A consultation exercise had been undertaken on the Council’s proposals.  The Leader of the Council explained that no changes had been proposed for the majority of the existing arrangements.  The review had therefore focussed on those polling districts where changes were proposed, namely in the St John’s West polling district and the Barnsbury Polling District. 

In respect of the Barnsbury Polling District, the Leader advised that Members were keen to retain the use of The Lighthouse as a polling station which, due to the lack of a suitably accessible entrance, could not currently be considered as a suitable venue.  Members were therefore keen to ensure that further investigations were undertaken to explore options to address the accessibility issues of The Lighthouse.  In view of this, the Leader moved and Councillor Forster seconded an amended recommendation, changing recommendation (ii) from “the Woking Sportsbox be designated as the polling place for the Barnsbury polling district (D5) in the Heathlands Ward;” to “the polling place for the Barnsbury polling district (D5) in the Heathlands Ward not be determined until further investigation is undertaken with respect to necessary accessibility requirements;”.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the existing arrangements for the following polling districts and their designated polling places be continued:

          (ii)   the polling place for the Barnsbury polling district (D5) in the Heathlands Ward not be determined until further investigation is undertaken with respect to necessary accessibility requirements;

          (iii)  changes to the St John’s West polling district (K1) boundary to include all properties within St John’s Lye (Festival Path) and Carolyn Close from the St John’s Central polling district (K2);

          (iv)  the St John’s Memorial Hall be designated as the polling place for the St John’s West polling district (K1) in the St John’s Ward;

          (v)   changes to the St John’s Central polling district (K2) boundary to remove all properties within St John’s Lye (Festival Path) and Carolyn Close to the St John’s West polling district (K1);

          (vi)  the St John’s Church be designated as the polling place for the St John’s Central polling district (K2) in the St John’s Ward: and

          (vii) the Council’s appreciation be expressed to the residents of Sutton Avenue for their support and assistance in the use of the Common Room for the May 2023 Poll.