To receive Report No. 169/2017 from the Director for Resources.

Report No. 169/2017 was received from the Director for Resources the purpose of which was to submit a proposal on warding patterns which achieves electoral equality across wards in Rutland and also accords to statutory criteria, for Council approval before submission to the LGBCE for them to consider as part of the consultation on warding patterns.

Mr Mathias moved the recommendations in the report, Miss Waller seconded the recommendations.

During debate the following points were raised:

• Mr Callaghan felt it was regrettable that the proposal resulted in an increase in spending.
• Miss Waller had initially felt that a reduction in Council Size would be appropriate but reluctantly came to the conclusion that increasing to 28 Councillors was the only logical answer to ensuring community cohesion, after having considered other options which all resulted in more radical changes than that proposed.  Development on the St George’s Barracks site may also result in a further review in the future.
• Mrs Mogg, Director for Resources, confirmed that this proposal would be the RCC response to the consultation, but Parish Councils and other Community Groups may also respond.  The Boundary Commission would then decide on the draft recommendations, which would be the subject of further consultation and would be brought back to Council in due course.

RESOLVED

Council APPROVED the submission to be provided to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on warding arrangements for Rutland County Council from May 2019 (Appendix A Report No. 169/2017) and AGREED that the LGBCE be asked to approve a Council size of 28 councillors (an increase in two from that originally proposed).