First Periodical Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries

The Boundary Commission for Scotland has published its provisional proposals for revised constituencies for the Scottish Parliament for public consultation. The consultation lasts for a period of one month, up to and including 14 March 2008.

Under the Scotland Act 1998, as amended by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004, the Boundary Commission for Scotland is required to keep under review, the boundaries of the constituencies and the regions, other than the constituencies of the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands.

The current constituencies for the Scottish Parliament were defined in 1995, and changes in the distribution of population, as well as changes to local government areas since then, have led the Commission to conclude that a comprehensive review is required. Until the Commission has progressed its review of constituencies and has considered representations on its proposals for constituencies, it is not in a position to determine changes that may be necessary to the boundaries of the 8 regions.

The Commission has designed revised constituencies using electorate data from the July 2007 Electoral Register. The boundaries for the proposed constituencies have been selected from whichever geographical feature or boundary creates a constituency of the right size, while respecting community ties wherever possible. On the basis of the Electoral Register in force at July 2007, the Commission established that the electoral quota for the review is 54,728. This figure is calculated by taking the number of Local Government Electors on the Electoral Register in Scotland at the review start date, excluding electors in the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands, and dividing it by 71. The electoral quota is fixed and is used throughout the life of the review.

The Scotland Act 1998 as amended requires the Commission to submit its first report to the Secretary of State not later than 30 June 2010.

The rules for the design of constituencies are set out in Schedule 1 of the Scotland Act 1998 as amended by the Scottish Parliamentary (Constituencies) Act 2004.

The Commission agreed the undernoted principles to use, when creating its provisional proposals for constituencies:

• constituencies will be wholly contained within a single Council area wherever practical;
• the Commission will try to recognise existing community ties;
• local geographies of the area will be taken into consideration (for example transport links, electoral wards, and existing constituency boundaries); and
• special geographical considerations will be considered where appropriate.

Details of the Boundary Commissions provisional proposals that affect East Ayrshire Council area are detailed on the Boundary Commission's website at www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk

As part of the consultation arrangements, details of the Commission’s proposals including maps, will be displayed from 14 February 2008 at the undernoted:

• Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock;
• Dick Institute Library, 1 Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock;
• Newmilns Library, 4 Craigview Road, Newmilns; and
• Stewarton Library, 3 Avenue Street, Stewarton.

In addition, in respect of that part of East Ayrshire covered by the existing Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Parliamentary Constituency, South Ayrshire Council have made arrangements for depositing maps etc., within the Cumnock and Dalmellington Libraries.

Representations on the proposals require to be submitted by 14 March 2008 and should be addressed to The Secretary, Boundary Commission for Scotland, 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7QJ. Representations may also be made by fax to 0131 538 7511, by e-mail to southwestandcentralscotland@bcomm-scotland.gov.uk, or by using the proforma reply facility, available on the Commission’s website at www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk.

Persons making representations should state whether they approve of, or object to, the Commission’s proposals and should give their reasons for approval or rejection. In particular, objectors are advised to say what they propose in place of the Commission’s proposals and, if possible, provide a map or diagram of what they propose. For administrative purposes, those making representations should also provide their full address, including postcode, as this will greatly assist the Commission in keeping interested parties informed as the review progresses. Where representations objecting to a provisional proposal are made by a local authority covering the constituency, or by a body of 100 or more electors resident in the proposed constituency, the Commission will hold a local enquiry.

East Ayrshire Council New Ward Boundaries

The new Ward boundaries for East Ayrshire came into effect on 4 September 2006. The new boundaries relate to Wards 1-9 following the Council Elections on 3 May 2007.

Ward 1 - Annick (3 Member Ward)
Ward 2 - Kilmarnock North (3 Member Ward)
Ward 3 - Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse (4 Member Ward)
Ward 4 - Kilmarnock East and Hurlford (4 Member Ward)
Ward 5 - Kilmarnock South (3 Member Ward)
Ward 6 - Irvine Valley (4 Member Ward)
Ward 7 - Ballochmyle (4 Member Ward)
Ward 8 - Cumnock and New Cumnock (4 Member Ward)
Ward 9 - Doon Valley (3 Member Ward)

Local Community Planning Forums and Local Grants Committees

The Council, at its meeting on 6 December 2007, agreed the development of four Local Community Planning Forums and Local Grants Committees in terms of the undernoted areas.

Northern (Wards 1 and 6)
Central North (Wards 2 and 4)
Central South (Wards 3 and 5)
Southern (Wards 7, 8 and 9)