CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

8 Jan 2003 10:45 AM

The Commission will publish provisional recommendations on 16 January 2003 for changes to all seven constituencies in the county of Suffolk.

Provisional Recommendations
1. The county of Suffolk has seven constituencies with a parliamentary electorate in 2000 of 508,416. This number of electors, when divided by the 2000 electoral quota of 69,934, gives a theoretical entitlement to 7.27 seats. The electoral quota is explained in "Rules" below. With seven seats, the average constituency electorate in the county (the county average) is 72,631. The electorates of the seven existing constituencies in the county range from 68,041 in Ipswich BC to 76,817 in Waveney CC, producing a disparity of 8,776.

2. The only changes to local authority boundaries in Suffolk since the last general review have been to ward boundaries following the Periodical Electoral Reviews by the Local Government Commission for England (now the Boundary Committee for England). The new wards for two districts (Ipswich and Waveney) came into effect on 2 May 2002, and new wards for the other five districts will come into effect on 1 May 2003. Thirteen of the new wards, in five of the seven districts, are, or will be, divided between constituencies. The Commission do not divide wards between constituencies. This review will provide an opportunity to place wards wholly within seats.

3. The changes proposed by the Commission affect only those new wards which are, or will be, divided between constituencies. They have proposed that constituency boundaries are realigned with the new ward boundaries so that, except in one case, the minimum number of electors are transferred. The changes would increase the electorate of Ipswich BC (which currently has the lowest electorate in the county) from 68,041 to 71,717. This would result in Ipswich BC having an electorate closer to the electoral quota, and closer to the county average (at only 914 below). The changes elsewhere in Suffolk would slightly decrease the electorate of Waveney CC, which currently has the highest electorate in the county, from 76,817 to 76,708. The seat with the lowest electorate would be South Suffolk CC (69,119).

4. The only divided ward not subject to realignment in terms of transferring the minimum number of electors would be the St Edmundsbury Borough ward of Horringer and Whelnetham, where 945 electors would be transferred from Bury St Edmunds CC to West Suffolk CC, instead of 774 electors being transferred in the opposite direction if the Commission had proposed to transfer the minimum number of electors. The Commission noted that, while the ward bordered the town of Bury St Edmunds, the greater area of the ward is currently in the existing West Suffolk seat. They also noted that to place the ward in West Suffolk CC would allow the electorates of the neighbouring Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk seats to be closer to each other and to the electoral quota (69,934) and the county average (72,631). Under the proposals, Bury St Edmunds CC would have an electorate of 74,921 instead of 76,640 if minimum change had been adopted in respect of the Horringer and Whelnetham ward, and West Suffolk CC would have an electorate of 70,602 instead of 68,883.

5. The Commission were aware that under their proposals three seats in the county would have electorates sufficiently above the electoral quota to require them to consider making further change: Bury St Edmunds CC at 74,921 (4,987 above), Suffolk Coastal CC at 76,085 (6,151 above), and Waveney CC at 76,708 (6,774 above). However, they considered that with a county average of 72,631, these electorates were not too large (all three being within 4,077 of the county average), and that any additional changes to bring seat electorates closer together would result in the transfer of an excessive number of electors and would create considerable and unnecessary disruption in the county.

6. The overall effect of the Commission's proposed changes in Suffolk would be to reduce the disparity between the constituencies with the highest and lowest electorates from 8,776, to 7,589.

7. 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.

8. The composition of the seven constituencies provisionally recommended would be (the 2000 electorates are shown in brackets):-

BURY ST EDMUNDS COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (74,921). Sixteen wards of the District of Mid Suffolk:- Bacton and Old Newton, Badwell Ash, Elmswell and Norton, Gislingham, Haughley and Wetherden, Needham Market, Onehouse, Rattlesden, Rickinghall and Walsham, Ringshall, Stowmarket Central, Stowmarket North, Stowmarket South, Stowupland, Thurston and Hessett, Woolpit; and thirteen wards of the Borough of St Edmundsbury:- Abbeygate, Eastgate, Fornham, Great Barton, Minden, Moreton Hall, Northgate, Pakenham, Risbygate, Rougham, St Olaves, Southgate, Westgate.

CENTRAL SUFFOLK AND NORTH IPSWICH COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (69,264). Three wards of the Borough of Ipswich:- Castle Hill, Whitehouse, Whitton; and fourteen wards of the District of Mid Suffolk:- Barking and Somersham, Bramford and Blakenham, Claydon and Barham, Debenham, Eye, Fressingfield, Helmingham and Coddenham, Hoxne, Mendlesham, Palgrave, Stradbroke and Laxfield, The Stonhams, Wetheringsett, Worlingworth; and ten wards of the District of Suffolk Coastal:- Earl Soham, Framlingham, Grundisburgh, Hacheston, Kesgrave East, Kesgrave West, Otley, Rushmere St Andrew, Wickham Market, Witnesham.

IPSWICH BOROUGH CONSTITUENCY (71,717). Thirteen wards of the Borough of Ipswich:- Alexandra, Bixley, Bridge, Gainsborough, Gipping, Holywells, Priory Heath, Rushmere, St John's, St Margaret's, Sprites, Stoke Park, Westgate.

SOUTH SUFFOLK COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (69,119). The District of Babergh; and two wards of the Borough of St Edmundsbury:- Cavendish, Clare.

SUFFOLK COASTAL COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (76,085). Twenty-four wards of the District of Suffolk Coastal:- Aldeburgh, Farlingaye, Felixstowe East, Felixstowe North, Felixstowe South, Felixstowe South East, Felixstowe West, Hollesley with Eyke, Kyson, Leiston, Martlesham, Melton and Ufford, Nacton, Orford and Tunstall, Peasenhall, Rendlesham, Riverside, Saxmundham, Seckford, Snape, Sutton, Trimleys with Kirton, Walberswick and Wenhaston, Yoxford; and four wards of the District of Waveney:- Blything, Halesworth, Southwold and Reydon, Wrentham.

WAVENEY COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (76,708). Nineteen wards of the District of Waveney:- Beccles North, Beccles South, Bungay, Carlton, Carlton Colville, Gunton and Corton, Harbour, Kessingland, Kirkley, Lothingland, Normanston, Oulton, Oulton Broad, Pakefield, St Margaret's, The Saints, Wainford, Whitton, Worlingham.

WEST SUFFOLK COUNTY CONSTITUENCY (70,602). The District of Forest Heath; and sixteen wards of the Borough of St Edmundsbury:- Bardwell, Barningham, Barrow, Chedburgh, Haverhill East, Haverhill North, Haverhill South, Haverhill West, Horringer and Whelnetham, Hundon, Ixworth, Kedington, Risby, Stanton, Wickhambrook, Withersfield.

9. Please note that the wards have not been shown for those districts (e.g. the District of Babergh) 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.

10. The wards named in this document are the new wards which were created by the following seven Orders, two of which came into effect at the local elections on 2 May 2002:-

The Borough of Ipswich (Electoral Changes) Order 2001; and The District of Waveney (Electoral Changes) Order 2001;

and five of which will come into effect on 1 May 2003:-
The District of Babergh (Electoral Changes) Order 2001;
The District of Forest Heath (Electoral Changes) Order 2001; The District of Mid Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2001; The Borough of St Edmundsbury (Electoral Changes) Order 2001; and The District of Suffolk Coastal (Electoral Changes) Order 2001.

Publication of Provisional Recommendations
11. The provisional recommendations will be published formally in a notice appearing in local newspapers in Suffolk on 16 January 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
12. 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 16 January 2003 (please note the copyright warning below concerning the map). Those addresses are:-

BUNGAY Bungay Library, Wharton Street, Bungay
BURY ST EDMUNDS Borough Offices, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds EYE Eye Library, Buckshorn Lane, Eye
FELIXSTOWE Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road, Felixstowe FRAMLINGHAM Framlingham Library, Old Court House, Bridge Street, Framlingham
HADLEIGH Babergh District Council, Corks Lane, Hadleigh
HALESWORTH Halesworth Library, Bridge Street, Halesworth HAVERHILL Council Offices, Lower Down Slade, Haverhill
IPSWICH The Civic Centre, Civic Drive, Ipswich
LEISTON Leiston Library, Old Post Office Square, Main Street, Leiston LOWESTOFT Lowestoft Central Library, Clapham Road South, Lowestoft MILDENHALL District Offices, College Heath Road, Mildenhall NEWMARKET Newmarket Library, The Rookery, Newmarket
STOWMARKET Stowmarket Town Council, Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket
SUDBURY Sudbury Town Council, Town Hall, Market Hill, Sudbury WOODBRIDGE District Council Offices, Melton Hill, Woodbridge

Representation Period: 16 January 2003 to 16 February 2003 13. The Commission are statutorily required to consider
representations about their provisional recommendations made within one month of local publication on 16 January 2003.

14. 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 chris.ault@ons.gov.uk. All representations received by the Commission will be acknowledged.

15. Please note that the Commission are not statutorily required to consider any representations made after 16 February 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 one month period. 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.

16. Where representations objecting to the provisional
recommendations are made by an interested local authority (a 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.

17. 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.

18. 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
19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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
22. 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.

23. 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. 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
24. In conducting a general review of constituencies, the Commission are required by the legislation to follow certain procedures, principally to provide for public consultation.

25. 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.

26. Representations may be made within one month of publication of the provisional recommendations 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.

27. 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. There is discretionary power to hold a second inquiry, but second inquiries are rarely held. 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
28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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
31. 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 (c)Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction will infringe Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.

32. 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
33. 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

Alternatively, send a fax to 020 7533 5176 or telephone:- Suffolk enquiries: 020 7533 5174 or 020 7533 5143
General enquiries: 020 7533 5177

Email address for Suffolk enquiries: chris.ault@ons.gov.uk Email address for general enquiries: bcomm.england@ons.gov.uk

34. The Internet version of this news release and the outline map (please note the Crown Copyright warning above) are now available on:- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/

SUFFOLK 2000 WARD ELECTORATES BY DISTRICT TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE REVIEW

A. Babergh District 65,860
1. Alton 3,023
2. Berners 3,041
3. Boxford 1,727
4. Brett Vale 1,570
5. Brook 3,199
6. Bures St Mary 1,390
7. Chadacre 1,555
8. Dodnash 2,861
9. Glemsford and Stanstead 2,799
10. Great Cornard North 2,864
11. Great Cornard South 3,205
12. Hadleigh North 2,846
13. Hadleigh South 2,858
14. Holbrook 1,648
15. Lavenham 1,542
16. Leavenheath 1,458
17. Long Melford 3,151
18. Lower Brett 1,682
19. Mid Samford 3,351
20. Nayland 1,523
21. North Cosford 1,765
22. Pinewood 2,607
23. South Cosford 1,678
24. Sudbury East 2,968
25. Sudbury North 3,199
26. Sudbury South 3,252
27. Waldingfield 3,098

B. Forest Heath District 33,608
1. All Saints 2,485
2. Brandon East 3,562
3. Brandon West 2,492
4. Eriswell and The Rows 2,672
5. Exning 1,502
6. Great Heath 2,765
7. Iceni 1,325
8. Lakenheath 2,762
9. Manor 1,196
10. Market 2,479
11. Red Lodge 1,145
12. St Mary's 4,293
13. Severals 3,696
14. South 1,234

C. Ipswich Borough 89,146
1. Alexandra 5,615
2. Bixley 5,784
3. Bridge 5,569
4. Castle Hill 5,995
5. Gainsborough 6,176
6. Gipping 5,583
7. Holywells 4,270
8. Priory Heath 4,475
9. Rushmere 6,057
10. St John's 5,705
11. St Margaret's 5,800
12. Sprites 5,589
13. Stoke Park 5,537
14. Westgate 5,557
15. Whitehouse 5,495
16. Whitton 5,939

D. Mid Suffolk District 67,345
1. Bacton and Old Newton 1,763
2. Badwell Ash 1,854
3. Barking and Somersham 1,658
4. Bramford and Blakenham 3,202
5. Claydon and Barham 3,299
6. Debenham 1,674
7. Elmswell and Norton 3,449
8. Eye 1,529
9. Fressingfield 1,778
10. Gislingham 1,831
11. Haughley and Wetherden 1,608
12. Helmingham and Coddenham 1,585
13. Hoxne 1,555
14. Mendlesham 1,702
15. Needham Market 3,551
16. Onehouse 1,716
17. Palgrave 1,578
18. Rattlesden 1,521
19. Rickinghall and Walsham 3,356
20. Ringshall 1,874
21. Stowmarket Central 3,652
22. Stowmarket North 4,170
23. Stowmarket South 3,712
24. Stowupland 1,727
25. Stradbroke and Laxfield 1,779
26. The Stonhams 1,795
27. Thurston and Hessett 3,379
28. Wetheringsett 1,773
29. Woolpit 1,572
30. Worlingworth 1,703

E. St Edmundsbury Borough 74,439
1. Abbeygate 3,193
2. Bardwell 1,869
3. Barningham 1,978
4. Barrow 1,636
5. Cavendish 1,585
6. Chedburgh 1,654
7. Clare 1,674
8. Eastgate 1,702
9. Fornham 1,666
10. Great Barton 1,754
11. Haverhill East 5,172
12. Haverhill North 4,922
13. Haverhill South 3,211
14. Haverhill West 2,987
15. Horringer and Whelnetham 1,719
16. Hundon 1,683
17. Ixworth 1,658
18. Kedington 1,501
19. Minden 3,650
20. Moreton Hall 3,583
21. Northgate 1,807
22. Pakenham 1,547
23. Risby 1,898
24. Risbygate 2,998
25. Rougham 1,785
26. St Olaves 3,530
27. Southgate 3,400
28. Stanton 1,891
29. Westgate 3,571
30. Wickhambrook 1,641
31. Withersfield 1,574

F. Suffolk Coastal District 90,600
1. Aldeburgh 3,214
2. Earl Soham 1,682
3. Farlingaye 1,555
4. Felixstowe East 3,468
5. Felixstowe North 3,042
6. Felixstowe South 3,243
7. Felixstowe South East 4,066
8. Felixstowe West 5,074
9. Framlingham 3,423
10. Grundisburgh 1,801
11. Hacheston 1,681
12. Hollesley with Eyke 1,640
13. Kesgrave East 3,882
14. Kesgrave West 2,978
15. Kyson 1,732
16. Leiston 4,783
17. Martlesham 3,905
18. Melton and Ufford 3,616
19. Nacton 3,300
20. Orford and Tunstall 1,613
21. Otley 1,780
22. Peasenhall 1,706
23. Rendlesham 1,324
24. Riverside 1,486
25. Rushmere St Andrew 4,561
26. Saxmundham 3,061
27. Seckford 1,534
28. Snape 1,561
29. Sutton 1,592
30. Trimleys with Kirton 5,442
31. Walberswick and Wenhaston 1,692
32. Wickham Market 1,792
33. Witnesham 1,645
34. Yoxford 1,726

G. Waveney District 87,418
1. Beccles North 3,722
2. Beccles South 4,092
3. Blything 1,774
4. Bungay 3,818
5. Carlton 3,651
6. Carlton Colville 4,678
7. Gunton and Corton 3,874
8. Halesworth 3,752
9. Harbour 5,680
10. Kessingland 3,666
11. Kirkley 5,553
12. Lothingland 1,695
13. Normanston 5,550
14. Oulton 3,101
15. Oulton Broad 3,947
16. Pakefield 5,453
17. St Margaret's 5,419
18. Southwold and Reydon 3,427
19. The Saints 1,783
20. Wainford 1,749
21. Whitton 5,968
22. Worlingham 3,309
23. Wrentham 1,757

Boundary Commission for England PO Box 31060 London SW1V 2FF T 020 7533 5177 Fax 020 7533 5176 GTN 3042 5177
e-mail bcomm.england@ons.gov.uk
Web Site http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/

Issued by the
Boundary Commission for England PO Box 31060 London SW1V 2FF Telephone 020 7533 5174 or 020 7533 5143
Fax 020 7533 5176