To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Shaw:
“This Council notes:
(i) The initial proposals put forward for the North West region by the Boundary Commission for England, which propose splitting the community of Formby in half, between two constituencies;
(ii) The widespread opposition to such a split which has been voiced by elected representatives and by Formby residents;
(iii) That a counter-proposal has been presented which satisfies the requirement for constituencies to have an electorate no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473, but which, rather than expanding the Southport constituency southwards into half of Formby, proposes expanding it eastwards along the Ribble estuary as far as the River Douglas, to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire with which Southport has historic ties;
This Council places on record its support for retaining the whole of Formby within one parliamentary constituency, and, consequently, the enlargement of the Southport constituency eastwards to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire.
This Council resolves that the Boundary Commission for England be notified accordingly.”
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor McGuire:
“This Council notes:
(i) the initial proposals put forward for the North West region by the Boundary Commission for England, which propose splitting the community of Formby in half, between two constituencies;
(ii) the widespread opposition to such a split which has been voiced by elected representatives and by Formby residents;
(iii) that a counter-proposal has been presented which satisfies the requirement for constituencies to have an electorate no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473, but which, rather than expanding the Southport constituency southwards into half of Formby, proposes expanding it eastwards along the Ribble estuary as far as the River Douglas, to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire with which Southport has historic ties.
This Council places on record its support for retaining the whole of Formby within one parliamentary constituency, and, consequently, the enlargement of the Southport constituency eastwards to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire.
This Council resolves that the Boundary Commission for England be notified accordingly.”
An amendment was moved by Councillor Parry, seconded by Councillor Papworth that the Motion be amended as follows:
‘Delete the text in (iii) of the Motion;
delete the following text in the penultimate paragraph of the Motion:
“and, consequently, the enlargement of the Southport constituency eastwards to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire”; and
add the following text after the penultimate paragraph of the Motion:
“This Council supports the transfer of Blundellsands Ward into the proposed Maghull Constituency and the retention of St. Oswald Ward in the Bootle Constituency”.
Following debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 19 votes to 9.
A further amendment was moved by Councillor Doran, seconded by Councillor Cuthbertson that the Motion be amended as follows:
Delete the text in (iii) of the Motion and substitute the following text:
“This Council calls upon the Coalition Government to relax the upper limit placed on the Boundary Commission of 80,473 per parliamentary constituency and thereby allowing the whole community of Formby to be placed within one parliamentary constituency without having to cross county boundaries, and
delete the following text in the penultimate paragraph of the Motion:
“and, consequently, the enlargement of the Southport constituency eastwards to include the neighbouring villages in Lancashire.”
Following debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried by 32 votes to 22.
On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Substantive Motion was carried by 35 votes to 4 and it was
RESOLVED:
“This Council notes:
(i) the initial proposals put forward for the North West region by the Boundary Commission for England, which propose splitting the community of Formby in half, between two constituencies; and
(ii) the widespread opposition to such a split which has been voiced by elected representatives and by Formby residents.
This Council Calls upon the Coalition Government to relax the upper limit placed on the Boundary Commission of 80,473 per parliamentary constituency and thereby allowing the whole community of Formby to be placed within one parliamentary constituency without having to cross county boundaries.
This Council places on record its support for retaining the whole of Formby within one parliamentary constituency.
This Council resolves that the Boundary Commission for England be notified accordingly.