The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people across Eastleigh for their help to draw up a new pattern of council wards for Eastleigh Borough Council.
The Commission has also announced that it is minded to recommend that the council should have 39 councillors in future: five fewer than the current arrangements.
The Commission now needs information from people and groups across Eastleigh to help it to produce a new pattern of wards to accommodate 39 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 wards reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Eastleigh.
Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “The starting point of an electoral review is for the Commission to take a view on the number of councillors that should represent the authority in future. On the evidence presented to the Commission, we are minded to recommend that Eastleigh should have 39 councillors in future: five fewer than the current arrangements.
“We are now asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Eastleigh. 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 Eastleigh or just a small part of the borough.
“We will publish all the submissions on our website so that local people can see all the various proposals we receive. Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in May next year.”
Residents have from 24 November 2015 until 1 February 2016 to have their say about where ward boundaries for Eastleigh’s 39 councillors should be drawn. The Commission will then publish its draft recommendations in May 2016 and open a further phase of consultation with local people. New wards are scheduled to come into effect at the 2018 local elections.
Further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing wards can be found at Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal and Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
Members of the public can have their say on the new ward arrangements by writing to:
The Review Officer (Eastleigh)
LGBCE
14th floor, Millbank Tower
London SW1P 4QP
Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk
Follow the Commission on Twitter: @LGBCE
Go directly to the Commission’s consultation portal at: Local Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal
Link to dedicated web page for the Eastleigh electoral review at: Local Government Boundary Commission for England
For further information contact the Commission’s press office on: 0330 500 1250 / 1525 or email: press@lgbce.org.uk
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Does this proposal just affect Eastleigh?
We live in Test Valley’s portion of Valley Park.
I wonder if the boundary between Eastleigh & Test Valley councils might be affected – I certainly hope not!!!
Hi Martin,
You can contact LGBCE (The Local Government Boundary Commission for England) to find out more. It’d be interesting to see how the boundaries may change.