GOVERNMENT chiefs have backed Wychavon District Council’s suggestion for a cut in the number of councillors from 45 to 43.
Voters across Evesham and Pershore are now being invited to have their say on a new political map to make up Wychavon District Council.
Wychavon councillors approved plans for a slimmed down council last December and following a review, the Local Government Boundary Commission has backed the proposed change.
The Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area and a 10-week consultation on the proposals will run until September 20.
Wychavon reduced the amount of councillors from 49 to 45 in time for the 2003 elections and any changes would not take place until the elections in May 2023.
Currently Wychavon’s 45 councillors serve 32 wards with neighbouring Worcester City Council electing 35 members across 15 wards while Malvern Hills District Council has 38 councillors across 22 wards.
A Local Government Boundary Commission review saw Bromsgrove District Council slash the number of councillors from 39 to 31 at the 2015 election
The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Wychavon District Council to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors and ward arrangements help the council work effectively.
It will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new ward boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.
Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Commission, said: “We are starting to draw up new wards for Wychavon.
“We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.
“Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process,” he added.
Visit https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/24728 or e-mail [email protected] with your views.
Alternatively, write to Review Officer (Wychavon), LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE.
