1. History

1.2 The city currently has a population of 530,600 and an electorate of 379,123. The city covers approximately 36,333 hectares, more than 75% being open space or countryside.

Map of forecast 2006 approximate electorate groupings

2.3 A set of proposals for new wards can be made in individual sectors with little impact on other sectors. In fact, any final implementation could very easily use the most appropriate model for each sector from different original submissions, regardless of which overall submission each sector was part of.

2.4 The geography is so distinctive that my model and the City Council’s model have both formed within the same sector model, and I am confidant that any submissions from other parties will fit into very similar geographical sectors.

2.5 Accordingly, this report details proposed new wards for the following six sectors of the city, each of which can be slotted into any other submission to make a complete model:

North-West	bounded by the upper Don valley railway and the River Rivelin
West	bounded by the River Rivelin and the River Porter
South-West	bounded by the River Porter and the River Sheaf railway line
South	bounded by the River Sheaf railway line, Ridgeway Road, Carr Brook and Sheffield Parkway
East	bounded by Ridgeway Road, Carr Brook, Sheffield Parkway and the lower Don valley railway line
North	bounded by the lower Don valley railway line and the upper Don valley railway line

The boundary between the North-West sector and the North sector follows the Parish boundary east of Oughtibridge rather than the railway line. The railway line at this point runs through the centre of Oughtibridge, and so it would cut the community in two.

2.6 As both my model and the City Council’s model have evolved within the same sectors, I have numbered the proposed wards in this model to match the City Council’s numbering scheme for ease of comparison. This summarises which wards are in which sector of the city:

3. Proposed Council Size

3.2 While many Metropolitan Districts are, by definition, predominantly urban there are significant rural areas in many such districts where the requirement for a three-member ward system forces irrational warding arrangements inappropriate to rural areas.

3.3 Most new Unitary Authorities have three-member wards as the norm, but they have the flexibility to have two-member and one-member wards where more appropriate. Legislation to allow Metropolitan Districts such as Sheffield to be treated in the same way would be seen as fairer and would be welcomed by many people involved in the democratic process.

3.4 There have been some suggestions to consider a council size significantly smaller than at present. The City Council initially drafted proposals based on 23 wards as well as 28 wards. I believe that a council size similar to that at present best suits the administration of the council and the representation of residents.

3.5 In 2000 the city council moved from a committee structure to a cabinet/scrutiny structure. At the time it was anticipated that this would result in a lower council workload for elected members. In contrast, many members actually reported an increase in workload, as was submitted in evidence submitted to the 2001 pay review process.

3.6 As an elected member myself I have also noted an increased workload with the new structure. I believe that going to a a 23-ward model would probably result in another 30% increase in workload, and that the new Cabinet system should be allowed to bed in for some years so that real information can be gathered on a suitable number of elected members.

3.7 Both main parties on the council have expressed support for the extension of the present Area Panel system. This will inevitably add to the workload and individual responsibilities of members. The move to cabinet/scrutiny may have removed the committee workload for many members, but it was always the case that the majority of members' workload was made up from casework, planning, licensing, appeals etc. This volume of work remains unchanged with the move to the new system.

3.8 At the Council's public consultation meetings that I attended no members of the public expressed support for a 23-ward model, rather, concern was expressed about the reduced democratic representation that larger wards would entail. Also, larger wards would result in some wards that would be very difficult to manage geographically by elected members and could put elected members out of touch with their constituents.

3.9 I have chosen 28 wards rather than 27 or 29 as a number that gives ward sizes close to the current average and as a number that is likely to better fit into future parliamentary constituencies.

4.2 The City Council’s forecasts show the city centre electorate decreasing from 2582 to 2309 by 2006. However, there are a lot of residential developments rapidly being completed within the city centre which will increase the city centre population. The 2001 register does not list several currently completed developments such as Cornish Place and Riverside. I have estimated an increase in the city centre electorate of about 2500 by 2006, resulting approximately 5000 electors. This is based on the following developments that are actively being completed on the ground:

4.3 City-wide, the average numbers of electors per dwelling is about 1.7 (379,123 electors, approx. 220,000 dwellings). This figure is similar to many district councils across England and other metropolitan authorities in Yorkshire. I have erred on the cautious side in estimating city centre growth and used 1.5 electors per dwelling for developments where a stated occupancy figure has not been given.

5.2 The boundary review is driven by numbers with the aim of electoral parity, but accepts that regard should be had to community ties that may be broken by warding arrangements. Taking communities ties as my main secondary aim, I have tried to put appropriate numbers together in the following manner:

6. Parish/Town Councils

7. About The Author