1. Juggling the Boundaries
John Parker
13 July 2017

2. What are we used to?
Historically we have been used to a fairly neat “Russian Doll” structure
The constituency is made of County/City divisions
The County divisions are made up of Test Valley wards
The Test Valley wards are made up of parishes (except Romsey Town)
Largely things are co-terminous

3. Who does what?
The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) reviews constituency boundaries
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) reviews county and borough boundaries
Test Valley Borough Council reviews parish boundaries and arrangements
Test Valley Borough Council reviews polling districts and polling stations

4. Where are we now – 1?
LGBCE has modified the County division boundaries
Reduced the number of councillors from 78 to 74
Review based on current parish boundaries but largely followed 7 May 2015 TVBC wards
These boundaries were used in the May 2017 elections
Romsey Town division gained Woodley/Ganger
Romsey Extra division was renamed Romsey Rural lost Woodley/Ganger but gained Dun Valley and Michelmersh and Timsbury
Baddesley division remained unchanged

5. Where are we now – 2a?
BCE is working on the final recommendations for constituencies
Reduces MPs from 650 to 600
Driven by requirement to have about the same number of electors for each MP
Based on 7 May 2015 TVBC ward boundaries
Third and final consultation late 2017
Final recommendations to Parliament September 2018

6. Where are we now – 2b?
BCE’s current recommendations change Romsey & Southampton North constituency to Test Valley constituency
Bassett and Swaythling move to Southampton Test
Blackwater and Dun Valley go to New Forest East
We gain Hiltingbury East and West, Chandler’s Ford East and West, Compton and Otterbourne, Colden Common and Twyford, Anna, Amport and Penton Bellinger

7. Where are we now – 3a?
LGBCE has published its draft recommendations for TVBC wards
Number of councillors reduced from 48 to 43
Proposals based largely on parish boundaries but with some drastic surgery
Romsey Extra ward removed and spread between neighbouring wards
Driving guidelines:
Equality of votes
Reflect communities
Easily identified boundaries
Effective and convenient government

8. Where are we now – 3b
LGBCE draft recommendations for TVBC open for public comment now and until 14 August 2017
Final recommendations due 3 October 2017
First use planned to be May 2019
See for details
Comments online or by post to:
Review Officer (Test Valley) LGBCE 14th Floor Millbank Tower London SW1P 4QP

12. Where does that leave us?
Constituency based on 2015 TVBC wards
County divisions based on 2015 TVBC wards but adjusted to current parish boundaries
But a totally different set of TVBC wards from 2017
New parish ward structures
Some anomalies!!

13. Example anomalies - 1
New Blackwater ward and new Mid Test ward both partly in New Forest East constituency and partly in Test Valley constituency
Broadlands, Stroud School, Halterworth School (and my house!) in North Baddesley and Halterworth ward but part of Romsey Extra PC and Romsey Rural division (not Baddesley division)

14. Example anomalies - 2
Woodley and Ganger is in Romsey Cupernham ward but part of Romsey Extra PC and in Romsey Town division
Abbotswood is in Romsey Cupernham ward but part of Romsey Extra PC and in Romsey Rural division
Crampmoor is in Ampfield and Braishfield ward but part of Romsey Extra PC and in Romsey Rural division
Think what it will be like in 2019 trying to run TVBC and parish elections at the same time!

15. What next?
Comment on LGBCE recommendations for TVBC wards before 14 Aug 17
Equality of votes achieved
But does it reflect communities?
Are the boundaries easily identified?
Does it provide for effective and convenient government?
When the dust settles TVBC will conduct a Community Governance Review concerning the parishes:
Should Romsey Town Council and Romsey Extra PC merge?
Or should Romsey Extra PC dissolve into the neighbouring parishes?
Should the parish boundaries change?
Or should it all stay the same?