Boundary Commission insists wards will not be broken up

By Sutton Coldfield Observer | Friday, October 14, 2011, 09:20

CONCERNS that Sutton wards could be broken up to satisfy the Boundary Commission for England's review into parliamentary constituency boundaries has been dismissed.

Residents in Sutton New Hall ward have raised concerns they may become part of Erdington under boundary change plans.
There are fears areas within wards in Sutton could be broken up.

Residents in Sutton Coldfield have highlighted the possibility of areas such as Banners Gate in Sutton Vesey ward becoming part of neighbouring Kingstanding, should the proposed plans for Sutton New Hall to become part of the Erdington constituency be rejected.

However, the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) has said there are no plans to break up any of the wards in England at this stage, although they did say this could not be ruled out in the future.

Mia Spreadbury, review team leader for the BCE, said: "In our initial proposals, the Banners Gate area of Sutton Coldfield, which is in the Sutton Vesey ward, remains in the Sutton Coldfield constituency.

"The BCE seeks to avoid dividing wards between constituencies wherever possible.

Our guide to the 2013 review states: "In the absence of exceptional circumstances, it would not be appropriate to divide wards in cases where it is possible to construct constituencies that meet the statutory electorate range without dividing them"."

The 2013 review of parliamentary constituencies is in a period of consultation until December 5, with interested parties urged to air their views on the initial proposals.

In addition to seeing Sutton New Hall ward become part of Erdington, along with Castle Bromwich, currently part of Solihull, the changes would also see Kingstanding join the Sutton Coldfield constituency.

The aim is for each constituency in the country to be within five per cent of the average number of electors, presently 76,641. A change which would also see 50 constituencies being axed.

Chris Hillcox, who runs action group Keep New Hall in Sutton Coldfield, was pleased that the Boundary Commission ended concern that Sutton wards could be broken up.

"I was concerned that people in Sutton Coldfield would not defend Walmley and Wylde Green's right to stay in Sutton Coldfield because they feared their own area could get transferred out if plans for New Hall are rejected.

"I only hope that all of these areas stay in Sutton Coldfield and residents maintain their right to have a say on how council money is spent in Sutton Coldfield."

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Comments

I object to the proposed recommendations and I respectfully request that the Boundary Commission for England retain the existing boundaries of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency, for the following reasons:

1: The existing electorate of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency is 74,676, which matches the ideal size sought by the Government in the current boundary review

2: The Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP with local Councillors has applied to the Crown, via the Cabinet Office, to reinstate the name of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield (granted by the Royal Charter of Henry VIII in 1528). The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice the case for a Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, because in terms of governance, the town would no longer exist

3: The proposed alterations would destroy existing devolved local governance arrangements from Birmingham City Council to the Sutton Coldfield Constituency

4: The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice delivery of the Statutory Planning Document, the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Framework, which is dependent upon the Royal Town identity

5: Finally, it is understood that the Castle Bromwich Ward is proposed to become a part of the Erdington Constituency, and it is this proposal that has necessitated Sutton New Hall Ward going into the Erdington Constituency and the Kingstanding Ward going into the Sutton Coldfield Constituency. However, a better solution would be to:

i: Add the Castle Bromwich Ward to the Erdington Constituency as proposed

ii: Keep the Sutton Coldfield Constituency unified, as it currently exists

iii: Leave the Kingstanding Ward in Erdington, or add it to the Perry Bar Constituency. Kinstanding would have a better chance of accessing regeneration funding if it remains in Erdington or joins Perry Bar Constituency. It's regeneration would be prejudiced if it was part Sutton Coldfield, one of England's least deprived areas.(In terms of living environment, the Government's Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks Kingstanding 156 out of 32,482 English wards, where 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived. As such, the living environment in Kingstanding is in the 0.5% most deprived in England).

By The Kings Arms at 19:12 on 14/10/11
Report
I object to the proposed recommendations and I respectfully request that the Boundary Commission for England retain the existing boundaries of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency, for the following reasons:

1: The existing electorate of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency is 74,676, which matches the ideal size sought by the Government in the current boundary review

2: The Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP with local Councillors has applied to the Crown, via the Cabinet Office, to reinstate the name of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield (granted by the Royal Charter of Henry VIII in 1528). The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice the case for a Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, because in terms of governance, the town would no longer exist

3: The proposed alterations would destroy existing devolved local governance arrangements from Birmingham City Council to the Sutton Coldfield Constituency

4: The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice delivery of the Statutory Planning Document, the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Framework, which is dependent upon the Royal Town identity

5: Finally, it is understood that the Castle Bromwich Ward is proposed to become a part of the Erdington Constituency, and it is this proposal that has necessitated Sutton New Hall Ward going into the Erdington Constituency and the Kingstanding Ward going into the Sutton Coldfield Constituency. However, a better solution would be to:

i: Add the Castle Bromwich Ward to the Erdington Constituency as proposed

ii: Keep the Sutton Coldfield Constituency unified, as it currently exists

iii: Leave the Kingstanding Ward in Erdington, or add it to the Perry Bar Constituency. Kinstanding would have a better chance of accessing regeneration funding if it remains in Erdington or joins Perry Bar Constituency. It's regeneration would be prejudiced if it was part Sutton Coldfield, one of England's least deprived areas.(In terms of living environment, the Government's Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks Kingstanding 156 out of 32,482 English wards, where 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived. As such, the living environment in Kingstanding is in the 0.5% most deprived in England).

By The Kings Arms at 19:09 on 14/10/11
Report
I object to the proposed recommendations and I respectfully request that the Boundary Commission for England retain the existing boundaries of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency, for the following reasons:

1: The existing electorate of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency is 74,676, which matches the ideal size sought by the Government in the current boundary review

2: The Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP with local Councillors has applied to the Crown, via the Cabinet Office, to reinstate the name of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield (granted by the Royal Charter of Henry VIII in 1528). The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice the case for a Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, because in terms of governance, the town would no longer exist

3: The proposed alterations would destroy existing devolved local governance arrangements from Birmingham City Council to the Sutton Coldfield Constituency

4: The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice delivery of the Statutory Planning Document, the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Framework, which is dependent upon the Royal Town identity

5: Finally, it is understood that the Castle Bromwich Ward is proposed to become a part of the Erdington Constituency, and it is this proposal that has necessitated Sutton New Hall Ward going into the Erdington Constituency and the Kingstanding Ward going into the Sutton Coldfield Constituency. However, a better solution would be to:

i: Add the Castle Bromwich Ward to the Erdington Constituency as proposed

ii: Keep the Sutton Coldfield Constituency unified, as it currently exists

iii: Leave the Kingstanding Ward in Erdington, or add it to the Perry Bar Constituency. Kinstanding would have a better chance of accessing regeneration funding if it remains in Erdington or joins Perry Bar Constituency. It's regeneration would be prejudiced if it was part Sutton Coldfield, one of England's least deprived areas.(In terms of living environment, the Government's Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks Kingstanding 156 out of 32,482 English wards, where 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived. As such, the living environment in Kingstanding is in the 0.5% most deprived in England).

By The Kings Arms at 19:09 on 14/10/11
Report