Not long left to have say on council's future

RESIDENTS wanting to have their say on how many councillors they feel should be representing them on Bromsgrove District Council have just a week and a half left to submit their views.

The six-week consultation, being carried out by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), concludes on May 8.

The review, which was requested by Bromsgrove District Council, will also see changes to the ward names and boundaries.

Bromsgrove District Council currently has 39 members across 23 electoral wards and the Boundary Commission wants to hear from residents on a proposal to reduce the number of councillors to 31.

Evidence has already been submitted over the last few months by the council and its political groups and now it is residents' turn to have their say.

Max Caller is the chair of the LGBCE, which is responsible for reviewing electoral issues - including defining boundaries, numbers of councillors and local elections.

He said: “We want to know if you think 31 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 Bromsgrove’s communities.

“If you don’t agree Bromsgrove should be represented by 31 councillors, we’d like you to tell us your alternative and why you think there should be more – or fewer – members of the council in the future.”

Once the review has been completed, the proposals for the total number of councillors for Bromsgrove will be published in June.

Residents will then be asked for their views on how they feel the ward boundaries should be redrawn to accommodate the members.

The LBGCE is aiming to publish its draft recommendations for the new ward boundaries in November 2012, when it will again consult Bromsgrove residents for eight weeks. And the final recommendations will be published in spring next year.

It is hoped the new electoral wards will be in force for the 2015 council elections.

For more on Bromsgrove's review and an online submission form, visit http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/west-midlands/worcestershire/bromsgrove-fer

The reports the Conservative, Labour and Wythall Residents' Association groups are also available to view there.

Those wanting to have their say can write to: The Review Officer (Bromsgrove), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG or e-mail their views to reviews@lgbce.org.uk

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