News Release
Embargoed until 00:01, 26 September 2017
Have your say on new council division boundaries for Cornwall
Illustrate your story with a high res image of current ward boundaries available at:
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for Englandis asking local people for their helpto draw up a new pattern of council divisions forCornwallCouncil.
The consultation will help the Commission re-draw divisionboundaries across Cornwall.
The Commission has alsoannounced that it is minded to recommend that, from 2021, the council should have 87 councillors: 36 fewer than the current arrangements.
The Commission now needs information from people and groups across Cornwallto help it to produce a new pattern of divisions to accommodate 87 councillors.
In drawing up new boundaries, the Commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. The review also aims to ensure that the new council divisions reflect the interests and identities of communities acrossCornwall.
Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “The first part this review is for the Commission to come to a view on the total number of councillors that should be elected to the council in the future. Our judgment is that 87 councillors is the right number to provide effective local government for Cornwall.
“Our consultation on councillor numbers produced plenty of detailed evidence on decision making and democratic representation in Cornwall. It was clear that local people and organisations care deeply about the future of local government in their area.
“We looked at how the council is changing, the challenges it faces and its ambitions for the future. We see a clear model for Cornwall to be a council with fewer councillors focussing on key strategic issues with parish and town councils taking more responsibility for local issues.
“We also think that 87 councillors make for a good basis to draw up new division boundaries that respect community ties and make sense to local people.”
“We are now asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new divisions for Cornwall.As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.
“Your views will make a difference.
“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Cornwallor just a small part of the county.
Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after the Commission publishes its draft recommendations later in 2018.
Local people have until 19 February 2018to submit their views. Further information on the reviewand interactive maps of the existing divisions can be found at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and
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Notes to editors:
1. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements, defining boundaries for local elections and the number of councillors to be elected, as well as conducting reviews of local government external boundaries and structures.
2. The types of questions the Commission is asking residents at this stage are:
- Do you have suggestions about where your divisionboundaries should be?
- Which areas do you identify as your local community?
- Where do people in your area go to access local facilities such as shops and leisure activities?
3. Residents have from26 September 2017 until 19 February 2018 to have their say about where divisionboundaries for Cornwall’s 87councillors should be drawn. The Commission will then publish its draft recommendations later in 2018and open a further phase of consultation with local people. New divisions are scheduled to come into effect at the 2021 council elections.
4. Members of the public can have their say on the new electoral arrangements by writing to:
The Review Officer (Cornwall)
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
14th floor, Millbank Tower
London
SW1P 4QP
Email:
Follow the Commission on Twitter: @LGBCE
Go directly to the Commission’s consultation portal at: consultation.lgbce.org.uk
Find out more on our website at:
For further information contact the Commission’s press office on: 0330 500 1250 / 1525 or email: