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<p>On 2018-12-17 09:57, Martin Koppenhoefer wrote:</p>
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<div dir="ltr">Am Sa., 15. Dez. 2018 um 16:09 Uhr schrieb Colin Smale <<a href="mailto:colin.smale@xs4all.nl">colin.smale@xs4all.nl</a>>:</div>
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<p><span>"without access to the same sources" ... what if there is only one source of truth? With these non-observable items like admin boundaries that is often the case. </span></p>
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<div>for admin boundaries there will often be at least 2 "true" document sources: one for each party / side. They are also often observable, at least punctually.</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">Looking at the UK position, I have to disagree with you here. Definitive admin boundaries are administered by a "higher level". The two parties to a common boundary do not have the authority to define the boundary unilaterally. The "higher level" will tell them where there boundaries are. Both parties refer to a single legal document (primary or secondary legislation). So there is only one true source, but a variety of way of getting there. You could ask each party for their understanding of where the boundary is, but they don't own that information, they inherit it. They should both point you at the same Statutory Instrument.</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">There are legal processes for making changes to boundaries, which sometimes have to be managed and/or reviewed by the LGBCE (Local government boundary commission for England) or equivalent bodies in the other nations. The result of the consulation process is a recommendation to "change the law" which, on coming into force, becomes binding on the parties named in the Statutory Instrument.</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">One other thing: in the UK the boundaries of the area and the local authority running that area are two different things. A local authority can run a combination of adjacent admin areas; some admin areas are defined in law without there being a local authority; and some admin areas are legally shared between councils. What we have in the official sources (e.g. OS Boundary-Line) shows the geometry of the areas, but it tells you nothing about the authority/ies "running" that area.</div>
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