CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & MILTON KEYNES
12 Mar 2003 10:45 AM
PART ONE OF TWO PARTS
The Commission will publish provisional recommendations on 20 March
2003 for minor changes to the seven existing constituencies in the
area covered by the counties of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
Provisional Recommendations
1. The combined area of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes currently
has seven constituencies with a parliamentary electorate in 2000 of
507,774. This number of electors, when divided by the 2000 electoral
quota of 69,934, gives a theoretical entitlement to 7.26 seats. The
electoral quota is explained in "Background Note" below.
2. Following the Buckinghamshire (Borough of Milton Keynes)
(Structural Change) Order 1995, the Borough of Milton Keynes ceased
to form part of the County of Buckinghamshire and became a new
Unitary Authority. The remaining four districts in the county formed
the County of Buckinghamshire. Unitary authorities have the legal
status of counties and therefore fall within the scope of Rule 4 of
Schedule 2 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986.
3. Buckinghamshire has a 2000 electorate of 356,780 and a theoretical
entitlement to 5.10 seats. Milton Keynes has a 2000 electorate of
150,994 and a theoretical entitlement to 2.16 seats. Seven seats
would be retained whether the areas were reviewed individually or as
one unit. As the county average of both areas is reasonably close to
the electoral quota, at 71,356 (Buckinghamshire) and 75,497 (Milton
Keynes), the Commission have decided to review them separately and to
allocate five seats to Buckinghamshire and two seats to Milton
Keynes.
4. The five existing seats in Buckinghamshire have electorates
ranging from 80,155 in Aylesbury CC to 65,230 in Buckingham CC, a
disparity of 14,925. The two existing seats in Milton Keynes have
electorates of 76,011 in Milton Keynes South West BC and 74,983 in
North East Milton Keynes CC, a disparity of 1,028. The Commission's
provisional recommendations will reduce the disparity between the
five seats in Buckinghamshire to 3,044, and will reduce the disparity
between the two seats in Milton Keynes to 370.
5. Following the Periodical Electoral Reviews by the Local Government
Commission for England (now the Boundary Committee for England), some
new wards came into effect at the local government elections on 2 May
2002 (Milton Keynes Borough), and some will come into effect on 1 May
2003 (the Districts of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks, and
Wycombe). This will mean that twelve wards in the counties (seven in
Buckinghamshire and five in Milton Keynes) will be divided between
constituencies. The Commission do not divide wards between
constituencies and their proposals will realign the constituency
boundaries with the new ward boundaries, so that all wards are placed
wholly within constituencies.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
6. It is not possible for the Commission to propose the minimum
amount of change necessary to realign constituency boundaries with
the new ward boundaries in Buckinghamshire. This is because the
disparity would be increased from 14,925 to 22,264. This large
disparity would be caused by the resulting high electorate in
Aylesbury CC (82,996) and the low electorate in Buckingham CC
(60,732). Further changes are therefore necessary to reduce the
disparity and bring the five existing seats in Buckinghamshire closer
to the county average. The shape of the county, the position of
Aylesbury, and the size and shape of some wards limits the options.
7. The Commission propose that five of the seven divided wards in the
county are included wholly in the seat where the majority of electors
are already situated. The other two divided wards are wholly included
in the seat where the minority of electors are already situated. To
reduce the electorate of the Aylesbury seat and increase the
electorate of the Buckingham seat, the Commission propose that the
two Wycombe District wards of Icknield and The Risboroughs should be
transferred from Aylesbury CC to Buckingham CC.
8. The Commission also propose that the three Chiltern District wards
of Ballinger, South Heath and Chartridge (which is currently
divided), Great Missenden, and Prestwood and Heath End should be
transferred from Aylesbury CC to Chesham and Amersham CC, and that
the two Wycombe District wards of Hazelmere North, and Hazelmere
South should be transferred from Chesham and Amersham CC to Wycombe
CC. These changes would make Chesham and Amersham CC coterminous with
Chiltern District. The whole of the divided Wycombe District ward of
Greater Hughenden would be included in Aylesbury CC rather than in
Wycombe CC.
9. To increase the electorate of the Beaconsfield seat, and to
improve the shapes of the Beaconsfield and Wycombe seats, the
Commission propose that the two Wycombe District wards of Marlow
North and West, and Marlow South East should be transferred from
Wycombe CC to Beaconsfield CC, and that the Wycombe District ward of
Tylers Green and Loudwater should be transferred from Beaconsfield CC
to Wycombe CC.
10. The overall effect of these changes would be to reduce the
disparity between the constituencies with the highest and lowest
electorates from 14,925 to 3,044, and to bring the electorates of all
five seats to within 1,796 of the county average of 71,356.
11. The proposed new constituencies are illustrated in outline on the
sketch map which forms part of this document (please note the
copyright warning below concerning the map). The letters on the map
refer to the districts, and the numbers refer to the district wards.
The map is to be used in conjunction with the ward listing at the end
of this document which shows the letters and districts, the numbers
and wards, and the 2000 ward electorates on which the Commission are
required by law to work.
12. The composition of the five constituencies provisionally
recommended would be (the 2000 electorates are shown in brackets):-
AYLESBURY COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (72,023). Twelve wards of the District
of Aylesbury Vale:- Aston Clinton, Aylesbury Central, Bedgrove,
Coldharbour, Elmhurst and Watermead, Gatehouse, Mandeville and Elm
Farm, Oakfield, Quarrendon, Southcourt, Walton Court and Hawkslade,
Wendover; four wards of the District of Wycombe:- Bledlow and
Bradenham, Greater Hughenden, Lacey Green, Speen and the Hampdens,
Stokenchurch and Radnage.
BEACONSFIELD COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (72,604). The District of South
Bucks; five wards of the District of Wycombe:- Bourne End-cum-Hedsor,
Flackwell Heath and Little Marlow, Marlow North and West, Marlow
South East, The Wooburns.
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (69,560). Twenty-four wards of the
District of Aylesbury Vale:- Bierton, Brill, Buckingham North,
Buckingham South, Cheddington, Edlesborough, Great Brickhill, Great
Horwood, Grendon Underwood, Haddenham, Long Crendon, Luffield Abbey,
Marsh Gibbon, Newton Longville, Pitstone, Quainton, Steeple Claydon,
Stewkley, Tingewick, Waddesdon, Weedon, Wing, Wingrave, Winslow; two
wards of the District of Wycombe:- Icknield, The Risboroughs.
CHESHAM AND AMERSHAM COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (70,596). The District of
Chiltern.
WYCOMBE COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (71,997). Seventeen wards of the District
of Wycombe:- Abbey, Booker and Cressex, Bowerdean, Chiltern Rise,
Disraeli, Downley and Plomer Hill, Greater Marlow, Hambleden Valley,
Hazlemere North, Hazlemere South, Micklefield, Oakridge and
Castlefield, Ryemead, Sands, Terriers and Amersham Hill, Totteridge,
Tylers Green and Loudwater.
13. Please note that the wards have not been listed for the District
of Chiltern, or the District of South Bucks, where the whole of the
district is contained in the proposed constituency. However, as
already mentioned, a full ward listing with 2000 ward electorates is
given at the end of this document.
14. The wards named in this document are the new wards which were
created by the following Orders, which will come into effect at the
local elections on 1 May 2003:-
The District of Aylesbury Vale (Electoral Changes) Order 2002
The District of Chiltern (Electoral Changes) Order 2002
The District of South Bucks (Electoral Changes) Order 2002
The District of Wycombe (Electoral Changes) Order 2002
MILTON KEYNES
15. The Commission propose to bring the electorates of the two
existing Milton Keynes seats closer to the county average, and
thereby reduce the disparity between them, by recommending minor
changes. Three of the five divided wards are included wholly in the
seat where the majority of electors are already situated.
16. The Commission propose that the divided Milton Keynes Borough
ward of Wolverton should be wholly included in North East Milton
Keynes CC rather than in Milton Keynes South West BC. The Commission
also propose that the two Milton Keynes Borough wards of
Danesborough, and Walton Park (which is currently divided) should be
transferred from North East Milton Keynes CC to Milton Keynes South
West BC. Under these proposals the electoral disparity between the
two constituencies would be reduced from 1,028 to 370, with both
seats having electorates within 185 of the county average of 75,497.
17. These proposed changes will alter the shapes of Milton Keynes
South West BC and North East Milton Keynes CC, and the Commission
consider that the new names of Milton Keynes North CC and Milton
Keynes South BC would be more appropriate.
18. The composition of the two constituencies provisionally
recommended would be (the 2000 electorates are shown in brackets):-
MILTON KEYNES NORTH COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (75,312). Twelve wards of the
Borough of Milton Keynes:- Bradwell, Campbell Park, Hanslope Park,
Linford North, Linford South, Middleton, Newport Pagnell North,
Newport Pagnell South, Olney, Sherington, Stantonbury, Wolverton.
MILTON KEYNES SOUTH BOROUGH CONSTITUENCY (75,682). Eleven wards of
the Borough of Milton Keynes:- Bletchley and Fenny Stratford,
Danesborough, Denbigh, Eaton Manor, Emerson Valley, Furzton, Loughton
Park, Stony Stratford, Walton Park, Whaddon, Woughton.
19. The wards named in this document are the new wards which were
created by the following Order, which came into effect at the local
elections on 2 May 2002:-
The Borough of Milton Keynes (Electoral Changes) Order 2001
Publication of Provisional Recommendations
20. The provisional recommendations will be published formally in a
notice appearing in local newspapers in Buckinghamshire and Milton
Keynes on 20 March 2003. Local authorities, MPs, the Political
Parties' Headquarters, and others will be sent a copy of the
recommendations. The notice will also be published on the
Commission's web site at:- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/
Places of Inspection
21. The notice in local newspapers will also give the addresses where
a copy of the recommendations and a more detailed map illustrating
them may be inspected once the notice has been published in local
newspapers on 20 March 2003 (please note the copyright warning below
concerning the map). Those addresses are:-
AMERSHAM Council Offices, King George V Road, Amersham
AYLESBURY Council Offices, 66 High Street, Aylesbury
BLETCHLEY Public Library, Westfield Road, Bletchley
BUCKINGHAM Area Office, The Old Gaol, Market Hill, Buckingham
GERRARDS CROSS Public Library, 38 Station Road, Gerrards Cross
HIGH WYCOMBE Council Offices, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe
MARLOW Area Information Office, 31 High Street, Marlow
MILTON KEYNES Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes
PRINCES RISBOROUGH Area Information Office, Tower Court, Horns Lane,
Princes Risborough
WENDOVER Public Library, High Street, Wendover
Representation Period: 20 March 2003 to 27 April 2003
22. The Commission are statutorily required to consider
representations about their provisional recommendations made within
one month of local publication on 20 March 2003. However, the
statutory one month period has been extended by one week to allow for
the Easter holiday.
23. Representations should be addressed to the Boundary Commission
for England, PO Box 31060, London, SW1V 2FF, or faxed to 020 7533
5176, or emailed to alan.bannister@ons.gov.uk. All representations
received by the Commission will be acknowledged.
24. Please note that the Commission are not statutorily required to
consider any representations made after 27 April 2003, but will
endeavour to take late representations into account. However, the
later the representation is made, the more difficult this will be.
The Commission therefore ask that all representations be made within
the period allowed. In the event that a local inquiry is held into
the provisional recommendations, all representations will be made
public beforehand so that interested persons may prepare for the
local inquiry. Any representation received too late to be issued with
the other representations before the local inquiry cannot be given
the same weight as the other representations because other interested
persons will not have had the same opportunity to consider it.
25. Where representations objecting to the provisional
recommendations are made by an interested local authority (county or
district council) or by a body of 100 or more electors, the
Commission cannot proceed with their final recommendations to the
Secretary of State until a local inquiry has been held. If the
Commission decide to alter their recommendations as a result of the
inquiry, the revised recommendations must also be published and
representations invited, but a further local inquiry is not
obligatory.
26. Those who make representations are requested to say whether they
approve of, or object to, the Commission's proposals and to give
their reasons for their approval or objection. In particular,
objectors are advised to say what they propose in place of the
Commission's recommendations and should note that an objection
accompanied by a counter-proposal is likely to carry more weight than
a simple statement of objection.
27. The Commission wish to stress that their provisional
recommendations relate solely to parliamentary constituencies. They
do not affect county, district or parish boundaries, local taxes, the
administration of local services, or result in changes to postcodes.
Nor is there any evidence that the provisional recommendations have
an adverse effect on house prices, or car and house insurance
premiums. The Commission will not, therefore, be able to take account
of any representation which is based on these issues.
Background Note
28. The Commission are constituted under Schedule 1 to the
Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. The ex officio Chairman is the
Speaker of the House of Commons. The Deputy Chairman, who presides
over Commission meetings, is a High Court Judge appointed by the Lord
Chancellor. The other two Commissioners are appointed by the
Secretary of State. The two Assessors to the Commission are the
Registrar General of England and Wales and the Director General of
Ordnance Survey. Assistant Commissioners are lawyers appointed by the
Secretary of State to conduct local inquiries.
29. The Commission are required by the Parliamentary Constituencies
Act 1986 as amended by the Boundary Commissions Act 1992 to conduct a
general review of all the constituencies in England every eight to
twelve years. The Commission completed their previous general review
on 12 April 1995 and must therefore complete the current review after
11 April 2003 and before 12 April 2007.
30. The general review started formally with the publication of a
notice in the London Gazette on 17 February 2000. The Commission's
recommendations throughout the review must by law be based on the
numbers of electors on the electoral registers on that date.
Rules
31. In recommending new constituencies, the Commission are required
to give effect to the Rules for Redistribution of Seats which are
contained in Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act.
32. Rule 1 places a limit on the total number of constituencies. Rule
2 requires single member constituencies. Rule 3 relates to the City
of London. Rule 4 states that county and London borough boundaries
are to be followed so far as is practicable. Rule 5 states that the
electorates of constituencies are to be as nearly equal as
practicable. Rule 6 allows the Commission to depart from rules 4 and
5 if special geographical considerations make a departure desirable.
33. Rule 7 allows the Commission to depart from other rules; and
requires them to take account of inconveniences caused or local ties
broken by changes to constituencies. Rule 8 defines the electoral
quota as the total number of parliamentary electors in England
(36,995,157) divided by the existing number of seats (529), and
requires the Commission to use the electorates as at the start of a
review.
Procedures
34. In conducting a general review of constituencies, the Commission
are required by the legislation to follow certain procedures,
principally to provide for public consultation.
35. The Secretary of State must be given notice of a review and that
notice must be published in the London Gazette. Provisional
recommendations must be published in newspapers in the affected
constituencies and, unless the proposals are for no changes to be
made, they must also be deposited for public inspection in at least
one place in each affected constituency.
36. Representations may be made within one month of publication of
the provisional recommendations (however, see paragraph 22) and the
Commission must take any representations into consideration. Where
objections are received from a county or district council or a body
of 100 or more electors, a local inquiry must be held.
37. If the Commission revise their recommendations as a result of an
inquiry, the revised recommendations must also be published and
further representations invited and considered. A second local
inquiry cannot be forced by these further representations, but there
is discretionary power to hold a second inquiry. Any further
modifications, as a result of further representations or a second
inquiry, must also be published and representations invited. When the
Commission have decided their final recommendations for the whole
country, they must submit a report to the Secretary of State.
Implementation of the recommendations
38. The Secretary of State has a statutory duty to lay the
Commission's report before Parliament together with a draft Order in
Council giving effect to the Commission's recommendations with or
without modifications. If modifications are proposed, the Secretary
of State must also lay a statement of reasons for the modifications.
39. The draft Order in Council is submitted to both Houses of
Parliament for approval and, after it is made by Her Majesty in
Council, it cannot be called into question in any legal proceedings.
The new constituencies take effect at the general election following
the making of the Order in Council.
40. The above information is intended to be a general guide only. For
a definitive statement of the law, please refer to the Parliamentary
Constituencies Act 1986 - as amended by the Boundary Commissions Act
1992, the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, the Government of Wales
Act 1998, and the Scotland Act 1998 - together with the Court of
Appeal ruling in R v Boundary Commission for England Ex parte Foot
[1983] QB 600.
Crown Copyright
41. The outline map which forms part of this document and the maps
deposited at the addresses listed above are based on Ordnance Survey
data and are subject to ©Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction
will infringe Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil
proceedings.
42. Any person wishing to reproduce the outline map or the maps
placed on deposit should first contact the Copyright Office at
Ordnance Survey, Romsey Road, Southampton SO16 4GU (telephone 023
8079 2929).
Enquiries
43. Should you require further information about these provisional
recommendations or about other aspects of the Commission's work
please write to:-
Boundary Commission for England,
PO Box 31060,
London,
SW1V 2FF
44. The Internet version of this news release is now available on:-
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/
Issued by the Boundary Commission for England
PO Box 31060
London
SW1V 2FF
ENDS PART ONE OF TWO PARTS