Boundary Referendum And Public Consultation – Have Your Say

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is encouraging residents to have their say about the East Riding’s boundaries by voting in this month’s referendum, if eligible, or by completing and returning the public consultation form on page seven of the autumn edition of the council’s Your East Riding magazine.

From today, Monday, 8 September, postal ballots will be sent to more than 70,000 voters across 12 parishes, including Anlaby with Anlaby Common, Bilton, Cottingham, Elloughton-cum-Brough, Hedon, Hessle, Kirk Ella, North Ferriby, Preston, Swanland, Welton and Willerby.

The referendum and consultation are in response to Hull City Council’s decision earlier this year to establish a commission to consider options for changing the boundaries between Hull and the East Riding.

Hull City Council’s commission is looking at five options for change:
• Combining the existing Hull and East Riding councils into one local authority;
• Keeping the two existing councils but having a Combined Authority for certain functions, e.g. – planning, tourism and economic regeneration;
• Extending the city boundary to encompass the city travel-to-work-area;
• Extending the city boundary to encompass the contiguous built up area; and
• Merger of the officer administrations of Hull and East Riding councils.

Residents will note that maintaining the status quo is not an option.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council would like to again make it absolutely clear to residents that the authority was not consulted by the City Council on the establishment of the commission or its terms of reference or membership which, as a result, are Hull centric. In spite of misleading reports in the local media, the authority was not asked by the City Council to participate in the commission’s work.

Hull City Council has said that the outcome of the referendum will have ‘no bearing on the work of the commission’ and ‘misses the point entirely’; East Riding of Yorkshire Council does not share these views.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council resolved, unanimously, to strongly resist any attempts by the city council to expand its administrative boundaries into the East Riding and to hold a referendum in some areas of the East Riding, which may be potentially affected by any such review.

“This council strongly believes that the future of the East Riding should be decided by local people and it is because of this belief that residents will have their say this month. While Hull City Council may not value your views, East Riding of Yorkshire Council does.

“The postal referendum is intended to provide a democratic opportunity for more than 70,000 voters in 12 parishes to have a say on their future and to influence future decision-making.

“The decision to hold the referendum in these 12 parishes is based on previous proposals Hull City Council made for boundary changes at the time of local government reorganisation in 1996. However, any of the changes proposed by the city council would in-turn affect the wider East Riding and it is because of this that we are also holding a public consultation. I would urge every resident to express their view by voting, if eligible to do so, or by completing the consultation form.”

Ballots and consultation forms can be returned, free of charge, using the address provided or can be dropped off at the council’s libraries and customer service centres. Ballots and consultation forms should be returned by Friday, 26 September.

The count for the formal boundary referendum takes place on Monday, 29 September, with the result announced shortly after. In addition, the result of the public consultation will be announced at the same time.

For more information, see the referendum and boundary issue FAQs at www.eastriding.gov.uk or call (01482) 393939.