Community Governance Review - Draft Recommendation 8(a) - Rushden Lakes

Overview

Summary of Proposal

Donne Close & Prospect Avenue wards – The Town Council proposes abolishing the Donne Close and Prospect Avenue wards and incorporating their electors into the Rushden Lakes ward. The proposal notes that both wards have very small electorates, each represented by a single councillor, resulting in a disproportionate level of representation when compared to the other Town Council wards. It therefore seeks to achieve a more balanced distribution of electors across the area.

The proposal references the High Hayden Garden Community development (Rushden East Sustainable Urban Extension) that is planned for the area to the east of the A6 bypass. This development will add approximately 2700 additional homes that will be apportioned across the Higham Ferrers Lancaster ward (polling district HFD), and the Rushden Lakes and Rushden South wards over the coming years. Housing trajectories for the period 2025/2026 to 2029/2030 indicate approximately 370 new homes will be built in the existing Rushden Lakes ward over the next 5 years, though it is difficult to accurately apportion the development at this time.

Merging the wards into one of the other Town Council wards would be inconsistent with LGBCE guidance that a parish ward should not be split by a principal area ward boundary.

View the full submission (CGR 27, page 59) by Rushden Town Council.

View a map (Draft Recommendation 8a-8c, page 12) of the proposal.

Observations

The existing Donne Close and Prospect Avenue wards were established relatively recently following the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) review of North Northamptonshire Council’s electoral arrangements.

Although both wards fall within the North Northamptonshire Council ward of Higham Ferrers, they both lie within the parish boundary of Rushden and therefore require separate representation within the town council’s warding arrangements.

Merging the Donne Close and Prospect Avenue wards into Rushden Lakes ward, would create administrative electoral boundaries that are no longer consistent with LGBCE guidance. It would, however, help to achieve a more balanced electoral representation for around 635 electors.

There is an option to transfer the wards into the parish of Higham Ferrers enabling alignment of parish and unitary ward boundaries and simplifying electoral arrangements. While this could improve administrative efficiency and reduce voter confusion, it may weaken existing community ties with Rushden. Higham Ferrers Town Council has recommended retaining the current arrangements, which would indicate support for the wards remaining within Rushden parish

Draft recommendation (Recommendation 8a)

That the proposal to merge Donne Close and Prospect Avenue wards with Rushden Lakes ward be taken forward for further consultation.

Reason for recommendation - The recommendation would improve electoral equality and achieve a more proportionate allocation of electors to councillors across the parish, recognising the Town Council's view that the current representation in this area is out of balance with the rest of the town council wards. However, this option would be contrary to current LGBCE guidance.

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