Epsom and Ewell Borough Council met online July 19^th and considered the proposed submission regarding changes to Wards of the Borough. The Boundary Commission  confirmed the forecasted electorate figures for 2027. The forecasted electorate in the Borough is shown to be 64,889. On the basis of these figures, based on 35 Members the ratio for electorate to Member in 2027 is estimated to be 1: 1853.9. For the purposes of calculation for equality of Ward representation, the Council has worked to the 2027 figures at a ratio of 1:1854. It is important to note that the Electoral Review changes will take effect from 2023, which is before the next local Borough elections

The roads, railway lines, open spaces and rivers, criss cross the Borough. These features have helped to shape the Wards which currently exist. For this reason, there are key challenges to building a Warding Map which is distinctly different from what currently exists. The development of the Hospital Cluster since the last review, identified a clear need for the creation of a new Ward which encompassed the settlement. The creation of this new Ward directly helps to address the electoral variances which had grown over time. The mapping of the Borough in terms of Warding, focused on the natural and built divisions which have themselves, created distinct communities. In turn these communities have built their own local support infrastructure and arrangements. Although the advice on an Electoral Review is to start with a blank map, it is also to note the nature of the environment and the settled communities which exist.

The proposals being put forward for submission include:

The creation of a new Ward of Horton which would address electoral variances within key existing Wards;

To redistribute the electoral variances and addressing anomalies in Ward boundaries which have developed over time.

The table below sets out the comparison between the current arrangements alongside with recommended to Council for approval.

Councillor Alex Coley Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee reported to the Full Council Meeting (online) of 19^th July 2021 that the Council has been successful in a bid to the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) to fund the establishment of a Youth Hub. In response to a growing problem of unemployment and to avoid the pandemic creating a cohort of left behind young people, the DWP had requested bids from local authorities to establish a Youth Hub within the borough with the intention of supporting 18 – 24 years olds to help them seek employment and increase their chances of gaining future employment. The role of the Youth Hub is not to replicate existing DWP provision but to leverage a range of additional partner and industry resources to provide employment information and advice, support employer connections, work placements and mentors to support young people find pathways into work as soon as possible.

Partners would include NESCOT and the Coast to Capital Enterprise Adviser service.

The Hub is likely to be set inside the Ashley Centre, High Street Epsom