NEW REPRESENTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN BERWICK, SPITTAL AND TWEEDMOUTH
CONSULTATION – UPDATE
1. Consultation meetings have been held with:
10th November Berwick Development Trust
14th November Bring Back Berwick
21st November Spittal Improvement Trust
22nd November The Greenses Committee
6th December St Bartholemew and St Boisil’s Residents Association
2. Media coverage
1st December Public notice printed in Berwick Advertiser and consultation material placed on Council Website
1st December Article in Berwick Advertiser
5th January Article in Berwick Advertiser
2nd February Article in Berwick Advertiser
3. Consultation events have been held at:
2nd December Morrisons’ Supermarket, North Road, Berwick - information stand 4.30 – 6.30pm
3rd December Co-op Supermarket, Tweedmouth - information
stand 9.30 – 11.30am
4th December Advent Market, Bridge Street, Berwick – information
stand 11.00am – 3.00pm
7th December St Paul’s Church, Spittal - drop in session
5.30 – 7.30pm
8th December The Swan Centre – drop in sessions 10.00am –
12.00noon and 5.30 – 7.30pm
15th December The Jubilee Club, Spittal – drop in session
5.30 – 7.30pm
10th January Mitchell Memorial Hall, Tweedmouth - public meeting hosted by West End Residents’ Association
6.00 – 7.00pm
16th January Berwick Tourist Information Centre – drop in sessions 12.00 – 2.30pm and 5.30 – 7.30pm
3. Direct Mailing
Leaflets and questionnaires were sent to 5,670 households in Berwick, Spittal and Tweedmouth.
1,374 questionnaires were completed and returned. Of these, 72 respondents were found not to be on the Electoral Register; 12 were found to be from other wards not included in the consultation; and 55 papers were spoilt (more than one option was ticked / no options were ticked / respondent had submitted more than one form / no name or address was supplied).
1,235 questionnaires were therefore eligible for inclusion in the final analysis (representing 13.83% of the total electorate).
4. Final Analysis of Returned Questionnaires
Option
Number of returns
% of returns
% of electorate (8930)
Single Town Council
754
61.05%
8.44%
3 separate Parish Councils
238
19.27%
2.67%
No extra councils
243
19.68%
2.72%
Total
1,235
13.83%
Percentage of return in favour of new representative arrangements: 80.32%
Percentage of electorate in favour of new representative arrangements: 11.11%