Last chance to speak up on councillor numbers

There are just a few days remaining for local people to have their say on the number of councillors who will represent Stratford-on-Avon District Council in the future.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking whether 36 councillors should serve on the council in future, seventeen fewer than the current arrangements.

The public consultation will close on 8 April 2013.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “This consultation is the first but very important part of our electoral review of Stratford-on-Avon District Council. It is your chance to have your say on how the district is run.

“We want to make sure Stratford has the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions on behalf of residents in an effective way as well as being able to represent the interests of all local communities.

“This is your chance to shape your council for the future."

For more information and to have your say, log on to http://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/ or www.lgbce.org.uk

To have your say, write to:

Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk

Follow the Commission @LGBCE

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements e.g. defining boundaries for local elections and the number of councillors to be elected. The Commission also carries out reviews of the external boundaries of local authorities and their structure.

The Commission is carrying out an electoral review of Stratford-on-Avon following a formal request from the council in August 2012. The council requested the Commission to undertake a review to consider the number of councillors elected to the council.

In this phase of consultation, the Commission is asking local people to consider whether 36 councillors is the right number for Stratford-on-Avon and, if not, how many would better promote effective and convenient local government. In coming to a conclusion on council size, the Commission is also asking people to consider the following types of questions: 

• Do you think 36 councillors is the right number for the council to be able to take decisions for Stratford-on-Avon effectively?
• Could 36 councillors effectively represent the interests of all Stratford-on-Avon's various communities?

The electoral review of Stratford-on-Avon District Council is a separate undertaking from the review of parliamentary constituency boundaries which was carried out by a separate body (Boundary Commission for England) under different rules and legislation.