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New Ward Boundary Submissions - Trevor Maroney (25th Nov 2017 - 15:31:10) I had tried to have an earlier version of the following open letter published in the Liphook Herald this week, presumably the editor couldn't fit it in. As we only have two weeks left to comment on the Boundary Commission's draft recommendations I thought that you ought to read it and make your own minds up on how our future district councillors should be elected. Dear Sir Electoral equality is vitally important in a free and fair democracy with smaller parties and independent candidates benefiting from open competition during district elections. The Liphook Herald recently headlined the Liberal Democrats fight for single-councillor, district wards throughout East Hampshire despite an initial setback. It is unclear why our initial figures were rejected, but may have resulted from our valid assumption that the whole of Lowsley Farm housing development would be completed by 2023; whereas EHDC only included Phase 1 (155 houses) in the figures they submitted to the Commission. Indeed, the documentation they submitted states “planning refused” on a further 175 houses in Phase 2. Our three district councillors, in their comments to the Commission, clearly implied that they had the support of Cabinet in retaining the existing multi-councillor ward in Bramshott & Liphook as their comments were submitted by a senior council officer and, as such, assumed to be an official submission from EHDC. Furthermore, Cllr Glass told the Parish Council that Cabinet had “made an exception” in the case of Liphook and supported its current electoral system. This assertion is refuted by council officials: there are no Cabinet minutes of any meeting. Furthermore, the Council Leader has stated in writing that “the Council does not have a policy on multi-member wards…” Why just Liphook? There are 4 other multi-councillor wards in the district, and now 9 more are recommended. In contrast the non-partisan Parish Council held a meeting in public, debated a motion and then voted unanimously for single-councillor wards. A fair, open, honest and democratic decision which our district councillors strongly objected to. Revised proposals for Bramshott & Liphook with clearly defined boundaries and retaining local identities have now been submitted, ensuring that the electorate numbers in each ward are within +/-10% limits set by the Commission. I would urge your readers if they would like to support the new proposal and redress the imbalance in representation, to write to: The Review Officer (East Hampshire), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP, or via their website: consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/9704 or just email: reviews@lgbcw.org.uk and demand, in the interest of electoral equality, single-councillor wards before 11th December. Together we can really make our voices heard and change local politics for the better. Thank you. Yours faithfully Trevor Maroney Vice Chairman East Hampshire Liberal Democrats

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