'One for the bin' - councillors reject boundary change proposals

There was a rare show of unity in the Highland Council chamber last week as members queued up to denounce the latest Boundary Commission proposals.

 

Highland councillors unanimously agreed to fully reject the changes to Highland, which they said rode roughshod over community bonds.

 

In its latest plans, the commission has grouped together Highland, Moray and Argyll and Bute to create four proposed UK parliament constituencies.

 

Under its proposals, South Lochaber would be added to the Argyll and Bute council area in a constituency named Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber County.

 

The proposed Inverness-shire and Wester Ross County constituency would include Inverness, Fort William, Skye and part of Wester Ross.

 

Nairn, Strathspey and Moray West County constituency would include Badenoch and Strathspey, Nairn, and Elgin.

 

Finally, the entire northern half of Highland Council would fall under the proposed Caithness, Sutherland Easter Ross County constituency.

 

If agreed, the proposals would see four Highland Council wards split apart and MPs straddling different local authorities.

 

It sparked a strong reaction from councillors across the chamber. Inverness member Alex Graham summed up the mood when he concluded: 'This is one for the bin.'

 

Councillor Jackie Hendry opened the debate by highlighting the impracticality of the plan. 'If the boundary proposals proceed, we will have four councils wards that will be split – wards five, 12, 17 and 21. This will lead to a split to communities and confusion,' she said.

 

She added councillors would need a detailed map to know which MP to refer local issues to.

 

While Ms Hendry hinted political differences between MPs could hamper local projects, convener Bill Lobban went further.

 

'Not for the first time, we see Highland treated as nothing more than an afterthought for an unrepresentative Boundary Commission,' he said. 'These proposals – which include reducing the number of elected representatives – will massively increase the democratic deficit our remote communities already feel.

 

'Far be it from me to question the impartiality of the Boundary Commission, but someone less charitable than I could suggest this was designed with rather more political ramifications than they’re prepared to accept.'

 

He called on the council to reject the proposals with whatever means available.

 

Conservative councillor Patrick Logue sought to remind the council that the Boundary Commission is non-partisan. However, the chamber appeared in no mood to mince its words.

 

The main focus of councillors’ outrage is the division of existing communities. Skye councillor John Finlayson said the people of Skye are being treated like 'second class citizens' – subsumed into Inverness-shire and Wester Ross without so much as a name check.

 

Richard Gale was one of the last members to speak. He blasted the proposals as just 'a man with a map and a pen, drawing some pictures'.

 

Council officers now have the task of summarising councillors’ views in an official response to the Boundary Commission.

 

The Boundary Commission is tasked with reviewing the UK’s parliament constituencies and is gathering views on its draft plans, with consultation due to close on December 5.

 

Photograph: The proposed boundary changes, with black lines showing the current borders. NO_T46_Constituency boundary changes_01_Maps of Argyll and Lochaber