Letter: Boundary Changes Mean Less Connection

Published on: 15 Aug, 2023
Updated on: 15 Aug, 2023

From: Peta Malthouse

In response to: Residents’ Views Sought on ‘Finely Balanced’ SCC Boundary Change Proposals

The more they fiddle with the areas of representation the greater the argument for PR [proportional representation].

I live in Normandy and am pretty cheesed off with the borough council ward boundary change in which I lost my dedicated borough councillor. He is now one of two representing both Normandy and Pirbright but which one does what?

We have been for some years in the Woking Parliamentary constituency but are being moved to Surrey Heath, even further away.

Now, under the proposed county council division boundary changes, we will become part of the conglomerate of Worplesdon.

So I will no longer feel any direct connection with any of my representatives, supposedly one of the advantages of a first-past-the-post system.

There is no point in participating in the “consultation” as it won’t make any difference.

Responses to Letter: Boundary Changes Mean Less Connection

Mr Keith Francis Reply

August 15, 2023 at 12:27 pm

This meddling reminds me of what happened in Guildford Borough before the May 2023 local election where two completely unlike Wards were made into one meaning a former Councillor previously from elsewhere in the Borough is now in addition to continuing an existing SCC Councillor post is again one of your Borough Councillors.
I’m sorry to say that his performance at a recent meeting is typical of how I’ve seen him behave at SCC leading a “Committee” of one. “Oh, Yes!”
Are all these boundary changes conveniently leading up to next year’s General Election where my MP is one of the 100 or so who has already announced he wont be standing again?
John Perkins Reply

August 16, 2023 at 4:26 pm

I completely agree.

Consultation seems to be a box-ticking exercise – one was held, so file it and forget it.

Single Transferable Voting, a simple change to the current system in England and Wales, would go some way towards improving the situation. It’s been used in Northern Ireland since the 1970s and Scotland for almost 20 years. None of the main parties want it because it reduces their power.

More complicated, though possibly worth it, is a full PR system at council level. The local aspect would be lost, but is somewhat spurious under the current rules, in my opinion.