Watchdog to look into election boundaries

A REVIEW into the borough’s ward boundaries has been announced by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission.

The boundary review will be the first time that the Rochdale Borough Council’s ward boundaries and councillor numbers have been examined since 2003.

Boundary reviews are taking place at every council across Greater Manchester, with reports recently completed for Salford Council and Manchester City Council.

Local government electoral reviews are conducted to see whether boundaries of council wards or divisions within a local authority need to be altered, to ensure areas have the recommended numbers of voters.

There are currently 20 wards across the borough of Rochdale, each represented by three councillors. A timetable, leading up to a final decision by the Boundary Commission later in the year, has now been put in place by the council and agreed by the commission.

The first stage will be the council’s formal submission to the commission setting out its view on ward and councillor numbers across the borough.

After the Boundary Commission responds with its initial proposal, a full consultation and engagement period with residents, businesses and other interested parties will take place, prior to a final decision by the commission in spring 2021.

The outline timetable for the boundary review process is:

●●March 2020 – Council sizing report submitted to full council for approval.

●●April 2020 – If approved, the Local Government Boundary Commission responds to the sizing report.

●●May-August 2020 – Consultation and engagement on the proposals with the general public.

●●September 2020 – Final council report submitted to the Boundary Commission.

●●April 2021 – Final decision on the ward and councillors numbers across the borough made by the Boundary Commission.

●●May 2022 – All-out council elections.