The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is asking the residents of Torbay to help draw up new council wards for Torbay Council.
This consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will re-draw ward boundaries across Torbay.
The Council submitted proposals to the LGBCE in February recommending that Torbay should retain 36 councillors, which is the same as the current arrangements. The LGBCE have agreed with this.
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 Torbay and will be asking questions like:
– Do residents have suggestions about where their ward boundaries should be?
– Which areas do they identify as their local community?
– Where do people in their area go to access local facilities, such as shops and leisure activities?
Residents have until the 14 August 2017 to submit their views.
The consultation, along with further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing wards can be found at www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-west/devon/torbay
The timetable for the review is:
– 13 June to 14 August 2017 – consultation on new boundaries
– 3 October to 11 December 2017 – consultation on draft recommendations
– 6 February 2018 – final recommendations published
– May 2019 recommendations implemented at next full Local Government Elections
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.
The electoral review of Torbay Council is a separate undertaking from the review of parliamentary constituency boundaries which is being carried out by a separate body (Boundary Commission for England) under different rules and legislation.
Members of the public can have their say on the new electoral arrangements by writing to:
The Review Officer (Torbay), 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: consultation.lgbce.org.uk
Find out more on our website at: www.lgbce.org.uk
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