Parliamentary boundary proposals –
What you need to know!
The Boundary Commission – an independent non-political body - is re-drawing the boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies across the United Kingdom. This has caused some speculation in the press and a great number of myths and falsehoods. Here are the facts:
Why are they doing this?
The Government is committed to cutting the cost of politics by reducing the number of MPs from 650 to 600. This will save £12 million in salaries, expenses and other costs.
The plan will also see constituencies be of equal sizes at long last. Currently, Parliamentary constituencies can be of varying sizes with the smallest mainland constituency of Arfon having fewer than half as many as the largest on the mainland of East Ham. This means that at the moment your vote in Sutton Coldfield caries less weight than the vote of people in Scotland, Wales, Birmingham and Liverpool! From the next General Election, all constituencies must have between 72,810 and 80,473 registered electors. This will mean fairer votes for everyone.
Are there any exceptions?
Only for island constituencies such as the Isle of Wight, Orkney and Shetland and the Western Isles.
How does this affect Sutton Coldfield?
Sutton Coldfield is currently made up of four local government wards of Four Oaks, Vesey, Trinity and New Hall. The draft proposals are for New Hall – which comprises the areas of Walmley, Minworth and parts of Wylde Green - to become part of a new Parliamentary constituency with Erdington and Castle Bromwich whilst the Kingstanding Ward will become part of Sutton Coldfield Parliamentary constituency.
How does this affect me?
If you live in the New Hall ward then you will vote for a different set of candidates at the next General Election. You would then be in the same Parliamentary constituency as Erdington and Castle Bromwich which could be called Birmingham Erdington Parliamentary Constituency. Likewise if you live in the Kingstanding Ward you would then vote for a different set of candidates at the next General Election. You would then be in the same Parliamentary constituency as Four Oaks, Mere Green, Sutton Town Centre, Reddicap, Boldmere and Banners Gate which would be called Sutton Coldfield Parliamentary Constituency.
However, there have been many untruths and rumours told about the effect the changes would have as shown by our FAQs.
Will it affect the value of my home?
No! House prices are not affected by Parliamentary constituency boundaries and never have been. By way of example, half of Harman Road in Wylde Green is in Sutton Coldfield Parliamentary constituency and half in Birmingham Erdington Parliamentary constituency. Using the property valuing website zoopla.co.uk you can see that many homes on the Erdington side are worth more than the house directly opposite on the Sutton Coldfield side with almost as many vice versa. Parliamentary constituency boundaries have no effect on house prices!
Will it affect my council tax or insurance premiums?
No! Your council tax is set by Birmingham City Council and insurance premiums are not determined by Parliamentary constituency boundaries and never have been.
Will it affect school catchment areas or local services?
No! School catchment areas and local services are not dependent on Parliamentary constituency boundaries and will not change.
Will this mean that my address will now be Birmingham instead of Sutton Coldfield and will my postcode change?
No! Streetly, Little Aston and Curdworth put their address down as Sutton Coldfield and are considered part of Sutton Coldfield but have not been in the same Parliamentary constituency for decades. Postcodes and addresses have never been affected by Parliamentary constituencies and will not change.
Will this affect charities and other voluntary organisations?
No! Charities and voluntary organisations are not organised by Parliamentary constituency boundaries and will not change.
What about Sutton getting back its Royal Town status?
Our MP Andrew Mitchell said: ‘‘Sutton Coldfield will always be a Royal Town whatever the constituency boundaries and I will continue to campaign to have that rightful status restored.’’
What happens next?
The first stage of the consultation process has now closed. At noon on 6th March, the Boundary Commission will publish the representations made by letter, telephone, email and at the official public hearing in Birmingham online. Members of the public may counter statements made to the Bopundary Commission in the first consultation period on their website http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/
Residents have until 3rd April 2012 to comment on any representations. This can only be done online.
After this, in the Autumn of 2012, the Commission will publish the revisions (if any) to the proposals. If there are changes to the original proposals then a further period of consultation will follow only in the areas affected by the revisions following the representations.
Hasn’t this already been agreed?
No, there is a consultation process and the final outcome will not be known for nearly 18 months. These are only proposals and is most certainly NOT a done deal.
Can’t we just sign a petition if we object?
Certain Party-political campaigners may ask you to sign a petition. The next stage of the process is to be carried out online with residents welcome to comment on representations already received. Therefore, petitions will not count.
What if we want to speak at a public meeting?
Residents groups or political parties may organise public meetings. The Boundary Commission can only take note of comments on representations published online between 6th March and 3rd April so any views expressed at the meeting will not count.
