Boundary Review Committee public consultation 2013

The Boundary Review Committee was set up at the request of the Governor in Council to review the number and boundaries of the constituencies for election to the House of Keys and to report thereon to Tynwald.

Rather than make abstract recommendations, the Boundary Review Committee decided to seek Tynwald’s guidance and approval at each step of their deliberations. Consequently in December 2011, amongst other things Tynwald agreed to the principle that each constituency should return an equal number of Members to Tynwald, and that the constituencies should be of an equivalent size bearing in mind community considerations, and that no constituency should exceed 15% above or below the average population figure.

After further consultation with the public and having invited submissions from interested persons, the Committee made a further recommendation to Tynwald that there should be 12 constituencies returning 2 Members each. The recommendation was approved by Tynwald in October 2012.

Having received this direction from Tynwald the Committee is now seeking to draw the actual boundary lines according to those principles which Tynwald has approved. The Committee put forward draft plans showing the proposed boundaries for each constituency for consideration by members of the public prior to final determination of the submission to Tynwald. This final report to Tynwald will include a map for each constituency with the boundary lines clearly drawn. The map will based on an average population size of approx 7,000 per constituency (based on the latest figures from the 2011 Census).

The Committee is aware that the public consultations undertaken have identified a degree of dissatisfaction with the current system, and it is the aim of the Committee to put forward a system which, whilst acknowledging that there may be a degree of compromise, will be acceptable to most.

Changes being considered to original proposal

The Boundary Review Committee wishes to inform the public that, following the public consultation that took place between 9 January and 20 February 2013 on the proposals to draw up constituency boundaries for the House of Keys into twelve constituencies of two Members each, it is now giving consideration to a number of changes.

The most significant of these are:

to move Maughold from the proposed North constituency to the East
for Birch Hill to be retained within the Onchan constituency and for most of Howstrake including Lakeside Gardens to be moved into the East constituency

The Committee wishes to invite those affected by these changes to examine the revised draft maps on the Boundary Review website or at the Commissioners’ offices in Onchan, Laxey, Lonan and Maughold, and, if they wish, to respond with their views by email or letter.

Responses should be received by 5pm on Tuesday 9 April 2013. The consultation on the revised constituencies concluded on 20 February and the Boundary Review Committee is seeking views only the proposals specified above.

Responses in respect of other parts of the review are not required. Responses can be made in writing to: Mrs Ann Craine Secretary to the Boundary Review Committee Chief Secretary’s Office 3rd Floor, Government Office Bucks Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN or by emailing Ann.Craine@cso.gov.im

Downloadable Documents