Statutory review of polling districts and polling places 2024

2024 Statutory Review of polling districts and polling places

In my capacity as the Returning Officer for the South Lanarkshire Council local authority area I am responding to the consultation on the council's 2024 statutory review of polling districts and polling places.

The registered electorate for the South Lanarkshire local authority area as at the recent 4 July 2024 UK General Election was 224,568. It is also noted that there were 1,388 registered attainers with a further 3,414 registered 16 and 17-year-olds in the South Lanarkshire area at December 2023.

• all electors in the constituency have reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in circumstances; and 
• so far as is reasonably practicable all polling places should be accessible to all voters including those who are disabled and when considering the designation of a polling place the council must have regard to the needs of persons with disabilities

The National Records of Scotland data states that:-

• on 30 June 2022, the population of South Lanarkshire was 327,430. This is an increase of 0.6% from 325,500 in 2021
• between 2018 and 2028, the population of South Lanarkshire is projected to increase from 319,020 to 325,243. This is an increase of 2.0%, which compares to a projected increase of 1.8% for Scotland as a whole
• between 2018 and 2028 the number of 0-15 year olds and 16-24 year olds is expected to decline, by -4.1 and -2.2 % respectively, 0-15 year olds from 55,260 to 52,986 and 16-24 year olds from 31,409 to 30,717
• between 2018 and 2028, the number of 65 to 74 year olds and 75 and overs is expected to increase, by 20.8 and 25% respectively, 65-74 year olds from 34,406 to 41,576 and 75 and overs from 26,891 to 33,618
• in 2023, the number of households in South Lanarkshire was 149,454. This is a 0.9% increase from 148,124 households in 2022
• between 2018 and 2028, the number of households in South Lanarkshire is projected to increase from 146,173 to 153,273. This is a 4.9% increase
• in 2023, the number of dwellings in South Lanarkshire was 158,594. This is a 0.8% increase from 157,277 in 2022

These recent population and household/dwelling trends and projections have been factored into this consultation response. I am also mindful that the council will continue to monitor the electorate, and its spread across the local authority area, and where necessary conduct interim reviews of the polling scheme in advance of planned electoral events. 

As regards the council's own projections for housing development, the council's Planning Service have advised as follows:- 

• the council is currently preparing a new Local Development Plan for its area (to be known as LDP3). The current timetable for the plan shows adoption by the end of 2027. In terms of new housing the council must identify a 10 year Local Housing Land Requirement (LHLR). The Scottish Government's national spatial policy (National Planning Framework 4, (NPF4)) states the LHLR is expected to exceed a Minimum All-Tenure Housing Land Requirement (MATHLR) which NPF4 sets at 7,850 units for South Lanarkshire. This is to allow for local considerations
• an average of 1,309 homes have been built annually in the last 10 years
• the current Housing Land Audit for 2022/23 (an auditing process that monitors recent delivery and projects future delivery of housing in accordance with the existing LOP) has a 7 year supply of 6,078 units. This is, however, a changing picture, especially as regards deliverability, and will be picked up as part of the LDP3 process. The draft Housing Land Audit for 2023/24 is currently being worked on

In terms of expected development in the next 5 years I am advised that both the Housing Land Audit for 2022/23 and draft for 2023/24 can be used with some confidence, particularly in years 1-3. This is because completions programmes in 5 years usually apply to sites that are already under construction or are perhaps the next phase of development as part of a wider growth area. The focus of housing growth in the next five years is on the greenfield Community Growth Areas (CGAs) which have been allocated in LDPs since 2006 and on sites within settlements where brownfield redevelopment opportunities are being built out. These are summarised below.

Newton CGA and allocations to south of Cambuslang 

• 188 units in the Newton CGA and 218 in south Cambuslang from 2024-2029
• there are also brownfield developments in Cambuslang, around 117 of these are expected in central Cambuslang including at the former Hoover site

• 933 programmed completions from 2024-2029 
• this is a greenfield CGA which has seen consistent growth and will be likely to see this continue over the next 5 years

Hamilton CGA

• 563 programmed completions from 2024-2029 in the CGA 
• 133 programmed from 2024-2029 on the former Phillips factory site (west/central) Hamilton
• there are further brownfield sites within central Hamilton, but these are not currently programmed to deliver housing in 2024-2029

Larkhall CGA 

• 106 programmed completions from 2024-2029 in the CGA. Further development is allocated but is not currently programmed in the 2024-2029 period 
• 79 programmed on the former OAKS site in 2024-29

As above, this information has been factored into this consultation response. In general terms, subject to the changes proposed, the current polling scheme can accommodate the current projections, recognising that there are a number of variables that will determine whether or not, and to what extent, proposed developments are ultimately delivered. I am again also mindful that the Council will continue to monitor housing developments across the local authority area, and where necessary conduct interim reviews of the Polling Scheme in advance of planned electoral events, and where necessary propose adjustments to the Scheme to take account of changes in local populations.

The recent UK General Election held on 4 July 2024 has provided a helpful recent test of the current polling scheme. Feedback received at the time of the election, and subsequently from those working at the election did not highlight any material issues. In particular, I note that no material issues were raised as regards the accessibility of particular polling districts or polling places, or more general accessibility issues impacting upon electors being able to exercise their right to vote.

The polling scheme currently has 147 polling p[laces, of which 71 are council schools. Council officers are generally content around the accessibility and suitability of polling places within council schools. However, there are 9 other polling places that require to have an accessibility audit conducted. This process will be completed within the next few weeks. Following those audits having been completed there will be a requirement for a more detailed review of all polling places to be conducted to verify their accessibility and suitability. However, as matters stand, no issues are expected that cannot be suitably dealt with and this review will be overseen on a business as usual basis by the council's election office. In the usual way, additional aids are supplied to each polling station on polling day by the election office to provide assistance to those that might require it in order to vote.

It is recognised that the use of schools can impact upon the delivery of education services by the council. I would, however, note that the use of schools for polling places in South Lanarkshire is well-established, and to mitigate impact on elder pupils and the wider school communities the council's secondary schools are not used. It must also be recognised that schools have benefits over other potential polling places, being owned by the council, well located, well maintained and more generally suitable in terms of accessibility. I also note that the date for the next scheduled electoral event taking place in 2026, being the Scottish Parliament election, is to be an in-service day for all South Lanarkshire Council's schools, this having been considered by the council's Education Resources committee on 29 October 2024.

There are a number of polling places that were previously under the control of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture but have recently been transferred to various community groups and organisations, or will shortly be transferred. Where these organisations are willing to continue to allow the venue to be used as a polling place then, provided it remains suitable, I would propose that continues. If, for whatever reason, that continued use was no longer practicable, for instance the venue was reconfigured such that it was no longer suitable as a polling place, then a suitable alternative would need to be identified.

Taking account of the above, I would make the following proposals.

As regards polling districts some adjustments are proposed to merge polling districts which are now all within the same constituency for UK Westminster, Scottish Parliament and South Lanarkshire Council elections.

These are set out in more detail in the Appendix to this letter. Otherwise, no changes are proposed to the polling districts as set out in the current polling scheme as used at the General Election in July 2024.

The second review of Scottish parliamentary constituencies and regions is currently still ongoing with the conclusion expected in 2025. Currently there is a proposal in relation to the Rutherglen constituency within South Lanarkshire. The proposed change would see polling district SL120, that is currently contained within the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency, moved so that it is contained within the Rutherglen and Cambuslang constituency. There is also a proposal to change the name of this constituency from Rutherglen to Rutherglen and Cambuslang, to differentiate between the UK Parliamentary boundary and Scottish Parliamentary boundary. As matters stand, in terms of the polling scheme review there are no issues raised by this proposal. The outcome of this will be reviewed upon conclusion and if felt necessary an interim review of the polling scheme will be undertaken.

Polling places

As regards polling places some adjustments are proposed which are outlined in the appendix to this letter. Where polling districts are proposed for merger the proposed polling place is that which is allocated the highest electorate from those within the districts being merged. Otherwise, no changes are proposed to the polling places as set out in the current polling scheme as used at the General Election in July 2024.

Polling stations

As regards the polling stations to be used, in general terms no changes are proposed to those as set out in the current polling scheme as used at the General Election in July 2024, where the polling place is proposed to remain the same. However, there are otherwise some adjustments proposed to reflect proposals around changes in polling places, with revised proposals being included in the proposed revised Scheme.

To assist the council a revised polling scheme has been drafted. In the usual way, the election office would always look to conduct an interim review of the polling scheme in advance of an electoral event, where practicable.

I hope this response assists and is helpful for consideration alongside other consultation responses. If you require any further information, please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Dated 12 November 2024