Local views sought on number of councillors for Stratford-on-Avon

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people how many councillors they think should represent Stratford-on-Avon District Council in the future.

The six-week public consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will also consider changes to the number, names and boundaries of the council's wards.

The Commission has considered evidence submitted to it by the council and is now consulting residents on a proposal that would see the authority represented by 36 councillors in future, 17 fewer than the current arrangements.

The Commission is asking local people whether they think 36 is the right number of councillors for Stratford-on-Avon.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “This is your chance to shape your council for the future.  We are asking people across Stratford-on-Avon whether they agree that 36 councillors is the right number to represent the district in the future.

“We want to know if you think 36 is the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions effectively and whether it's the right number to represent the interests of all the district's communities.

“If you don't agree that Stratford-on-Avon should be represented by 36 councillors, we want you to tell us your alternative and why you think there should be more, or fewer, members of the council in the future.

“Once we have taken a view on the number of councillors, we will re-draw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we will ask local people to have their say during that process as well."

Further information about the review is available at www.lgbce.org.uk

Residents can have their say directly at consultation.lgbce.org.uk

Email reviews@lgbce.org.uk

Follow the Commission on Twitter @LGBCE

Write to:
The Review Officer (Stratford-on-Avon)
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Layden House
76-86 Turnmill Street
London EC1M 5LG

The current phase of consultation closes on 8 April 2013. Once it has considered the evidence provided by local people and organisations, the Commission will publish its proposal on the total number of councillors in May 2013 and then begin to gather information to help draw up new ward boundaries.

The Commission aims to publish its draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards for Stratford-on-Avon in October 2013 when it will consult local people again. Final recommendations are due to be published in March 2014 and the new electoral arrangements would come into effect for the council elections in 2015.

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.