Annual Report 2019-20

Objectives 2019-20

Overall objective

15. The whole of the 2019/20 financial year falls in between the active review
periods under the statutory five-year cycle of reviews. Our primary purpose this year has therefore been limited to collecting, collating and publishing parliamentary electorate data for existing constituencies in England.

Main objectives for 2019-20, with outcomes

16. The main objectives for the Commission during the financial year 2019/20 were:

• By the end of May 2019, collate and publish parliamentary electorate
  data from all local electoral registration officers in England, illustrating
  changes in electorate size in existing constituencies. The parliamentary
  electorate figures for 2019 were added to the data published on our website, which displays the year by year changes in the parliamentary electorate figures in English constituencies.
• By the end of June 2019, support the sponsor Department in the
  appointment of two new Commissioners, to ensure the Commission
  remains quorate. Our two new Commissioners, Colin Byrne and Sarah
  Hamilton, were appointed with effect from 1 July 2019, immediately
  following the expiry of the term of office of Neil Pringle on 30 June.
• During the course of the year, hold at least one formal meeting of
  Commissioners to maintain governance oversight and make key
  strategic planning and policy decisions relating to the next scheduled
  constituencies review. The Commissioners met formally on 21 February 2020, the papers and minutes of which will be published on the Commission’s website.
• By the end of November 2019, organise and deliver the Annual
  Meeting of the UK Boundary Commissions. The Commission
  organised and hosted this annual event on 29 November 2019. As well
  as sharing of knowledge and best practice between the Commissions, the meeting also received presentations from The Electoral Commission, the late Professor Ron Johnston, and Informed Solutions.
• By March 2020, produce an evaluation report on the administration of
  the 2018 Review, highlighting areas that could be improved and
  instances of good practice. A management report was produced and
  formed one of the papers at the Commissioners meeting on 21 February 2020.

17. Following the general election in December 2019, the Commission also
responded to requests for specialist technical briefing in relation to the practicalities of prospective changes to the arrangements for delivering a review of Parliamentary constituencies. This material informed the Government’s
development of its Parliamentary Constituencies Bill, which has subsequently been progressing through Parliament.