Boundary Committee for England
Encyclopedia
The Boundary Committee for England was a statutory committee of the Electoral Commission
, an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. The Committee’s aim was to conduct thorough, consultative and robust reviews of local government areas in England, and for its recommendations to be evidence-based, accurate and accepted. The Boundary Committee was abolished in 2010, with its functions assumed by a new Local Government Boundary Commission for England
.
The Committee’s responsibilities related solely to local government boundaries: responsibility for parliamentary boundaries lies with the Boundary Commission, a non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice
.
The Boundary Committee for England replaced the Local Government Commission for England
, which was the body responsible for reviewing the structure of local government in England from 1992 to 2002. The equivalent bodies operating in other parts of the United Kingdom
are the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
and the Local Government Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland.
The protocol on the relationship between the Boundary Committee for England and the Electoral Commission sets out the roles and responsibilities of each body in terms of securing fair boundary arrangements for local elections in England.
The Committee also looks at the number of councillors, the number of wards or divisions and whether the wards or divisions should be represented by a single councillor, or jointly by two or three councillors.
, should be established in an area instead of the district and county
councils of the existing two-tier system.
Current Boundary Committee members:
, which received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009, provided for the establishment of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
(LGBCE), and for the transfer to it of all the boundary-related functions of the Electoral Commission and the Boundary Committee for England. This reflects the recommendations of the Committee on Standards on Public Life
(CSPL), which were supported by the Electoral Commission and the Boundary Committee. This transfer took place in April 2010.
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
, an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. The Committee’s aim was to conduct thorough, consultative and robust reviews of local government areas in England, and for its recommendations to be evidence-based, accurate and accepted. The Boundary Committee was abolished in 2010, with its functions assumed by a new Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England a body established to review boundaries of local government areas in England and their electoral arrangements.-History and establishment:...
.
The Committee’s responsibilities related solely to local government boundaries: responsibility for parliamentary boundaries lies with the Boundary Commission, a non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
.
History/Establishment
On 1 April 2002 responsibility for electoral reviews in England transferred to the Electoral Commission. On the same day the Boundary Committee for England became a statutory committee of the Commission. The Committee undertakes electoral reviews and makes recommendations to the Commission as to whether electoral changes should be made in respect of the area under review. The Commission then decides whether to implement the Committee’s recommendations. The decision of the Commission is taken at a Commission meeting comprising the Electoral Commissioners as members.The Boundary Committee for England replaced the Local Government Commission for England
Local Government Commission for England (1992)
The Local Government Commission for England was the body responsible for reviewing the structure of local government in England from 1992 to 2002. It was established under the Local Government Act 1992, replacing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England...
, which was the body responsible for reviewing the structure of local government in England from 1992 to 2002. The equivalent bodies operating in other parts of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
are the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for defining borders for local elections in Wales....
, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an independent body in Scotland created under the Local Government Act 1973...
and the Local Government Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland.
The protocol on the relationship between the Boundary Committee for England and the Electoral Commission sets out the roles and responsibilities of each body in terms of securing fair boundary arrangements for local elections in England.
Responsibilities and objectives
The Boundary Committee for England is responsible for three types of review: electoral reviews; administrative boundary reviews; and structural reviews.Electoral Reviews
An electoral review considers whether the boundaries of wards or divisions within a local authority need to be altered to take account of changes in electorate. The Electoral Commission directs the Committee to undertake electoral reviews and is also responsible for implementing them.The Committee also looks at the number of councillors, the number of wards or divisions and whether the wards or divisions should be represented by a single councillor, or jointly by two or three councillors.
Administrative Boundary Reviews
At the request of the Department for Communities and Local Government or of a local authority, or at the Boundary Committee for England’s instigation, the Committee can undertake administrative boundary reviews, which review the external boundaries of a local authority.Structural Reviews
A structural review is used to establish whether one or more single, all-purpose councils, known as unitary authoritiesUnitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
, should be established in an area instead of the district and county
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of subdivisions of England used for the purposes of local government outside Greater London. As originally constituted, the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties each consisted of multiple districts, had a county council and...
councils of the existing two-tier system.
Organisation
Chair and Committee Members- Max Caller CBE was appointed Chair of the Boundary Committee for England in 2007. He also serves as an Electoral Commissioner.
Current Boundary Committee members:
- Jane Earl
- Joan Jones CBE
- Professor Colin Mellors
- Dr Peter Knight CBE DL
- The Director of the Boundary Committee for England is Archie Gall
LDEDC Act – changes to Boundary Committee Structure
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The legislation places a duty on local authorities to promote understanding of the functions and democratic arrangements of the authority among local people...
, which received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009, provided for the establishment of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England a body established to review boundaries of local government areas in England and their electoral arrangements.-History and establishment:...
(LGBCE), and for the transfer to it of all the boundary-related functions of the Electoral Commission and the Boundary Committee for England. This reflects the recommendations of the Committee on Standards on Public Life
Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom Government.The Committee on Standards in Public Life is constituted as a standing body with its members appointed for up to three years.-History:...
(CSPL), which were supported by the Electoral Commission and the Boundary Committee. This transfer took place in April 2010.