The Boundary Review of the Island's Council wards has just issued its draft report, and has essentially sat back and accepted the Council's submission for 40 councillors. A reduction by just one-sixth, when the Tory election manifesto pledged to seek a reduction by one-third. Labour proposed a reduction by a third to 33, the Liberals 30, and neither of us were asked by the Review - as the Council was - to provide further justification for our suggested numbers.
Additionally we asked the Review to get rid of some of the ridiculous boundaries in the centre of Island towns. They have done that, but by accepting the Council's submission have just moved the ridiculous boundary problem to other residential streets, especially in Newport.
Finally, after my complaint, they have upheld the Council's projections that just 116 extra adults will live in the Pan development after nearly 3 years of building. Clearly this is going to be the slowest built development in modern times ! Other than that the ward I am lucky to represent would be re-named Newport East and will basically be Pan plus 350 extra voters in the Shide area.
The draft report is open for comment until late January, and I will now be busy preparing further submissions to the Review with party colleagues from around the Island.
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