Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Constitutional and Nomination Committee - Wednesday, 30th January, 2019 9.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, Level 2, Town Hall Extension. View directions

Contact: Beth Morgan 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2018.

Minutes:

Decision

 

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 28 November 2019.

2.

Polling Districts and Polling Places: Proposed changes to the current scheme. pdf icon PDF 234 KB

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

Minutes:

The report explained that as part of preparations for the local government elections taking place on 2 May 2019, work has been undertaken by officers to ensure that polling places have the suitable access, space and facilities for electors. This work has been based on practical considerations relating to the availability of polling places in the current scheme and feedback from stakeholders. 

 

Following the report which went to the Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 28 November 2018, a small number of further changes are required to the current scheme. 

 

Officers have undertaken visits to the potential polling places in the polling districts where these changes are needed, to assess their suitability and to evaluate any alternatives which may exist.

 

When assessing the suitability of polling places an assessment of the following issues were taken into account:

 

·         the proximity of the polling place to populated areas

·         accessibility

·         signage

·         the management and configuration of the polling station

·         the capacity of polling places to accommodate more than one polling station if necessary

·         the number of electors within the district

·         recent developments and population changes

 

Changes are proposed for two polling places within the Manchester Gorton Constituency, in Gorton and Abbey Hey and Longsight wards.

 

For future polls it is proposed that the polling place for 3GAE is Active Me Studios on Abbey Hey Lane. Electors currently vote at Abbey Hey Primary Academy which is located within the adjoining polling district 3GAD. This is an arrangement which has been in place following the loss of premises in 3GAE several years ago. Local councillors supported the reinstatement of a polling place in 3GAE to make it more convenient for electors and assist in encouraging voter participation.

 

Active Me Studios is centrally located within 3GAE and is already well used within the local community due to the classes it runs for local residents. The room to be used is of a good size and will be made fully accessible on polling day.

 

For future polls it is proposed that the polling place for 3LOG is Gorton Primary School on Mount Road. Electors currently vote at the Grange School, which is further down Mount Road on the edge of the polling district, with the entrance round the back of Mount Road rather than directly from it.

 

Gorton Primary School is better located on Mount Road, closer to the majority of electors. A new school is currently under construction on the site. However, there is already a permanent building, which has a suitable room in it. This is a large suitable space which will be made fully accessible on polling day. It also benefits from being directly accessible from Mount Road.

 

Changes are proposed for one polling place within the Manchester Withington Constituency, in Old Moat ward.

 

For future polls it is proposed that the polling place for 4OMC is Withington Girls’ School on the corner of Wellington Road and Victoria Road. A re-designation is required in this polling district because the current polling place Fallowfield Bowling and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Membership of Council committees and representation on joint boards and joint committees

To consider proposed changes to the membership of committees and joint boards / joint committees.

 

(Note if the changes proposed involve re-consideration of a decision taken by the Council with the previous 6 months the Committee will need to request the Council to suspend Procedural Rule 25.1).

 

Minutes:

Decisions

 

1.    To request the Council to agree to suspend Procedural Rule 25.1 to allow the following decisions which involve reconsideration of a decision taken by the Council within the previous six months.

 

2.    To recommend the Council to make the following changes in appointments to Committees and Joint Committees of the Council.

 

Membership of Committees

 

The Committee reviewed the membership of committees.

 

Decision

 

To recommend the Council to make the following changes in appointments to Committees and Joint Committees of the Council.

 

Committee

Member removed

Member appointed

Greater Manchester Housing, Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Wilson

Councillor Clay

 

Health and Wellbeing Board

 

Decision

 

1.    To note the current membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

 

GP Provider Organisations - Members on rotation

 

Central - Primary Care Manchester- Dr Vish Mehra

 

South- South Manchester GP federation - Dr Angus Murray Brown

 

South - MHCC GP Board member - Dr Clare Lake (new member)

 

North- Northern Health GP Provider Organisation- Dr Amjad Ahmed