Political boundaries set to change in Cov for first time in 20 years

COVENTRY council’s political boundaries are set to change for the first time in 20 years.

Areas of the city that elect councillors, known as wards, are being redrawn under a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission.

City residents are now being asked to give their feedback on what this new political map could look like. The move is designed to make sure councillors represent a similar number of voters and aims to help the council work effectively, according to the commission.

It comes after data showed significant differences between the city’s eighteen wards - resulting in “unfair representation” a council report said. As of late 2021, Lower Stoke, Henley and Longford had over 10% more voters than average for wards across the city.

In contrast, Whoberley, St Michael’s and Wainbody had over 10% less than average. It sparked a review by the independent Commission starting in October 2022, the report in March revealed.

“The review was triggered due to 6 out of 18 wards being imbalanced across the City therefore generating an unfair representation at local government elections,” the council report said. “In addition to this the last electoral review of Coventry City Council was completed in 2003.”

The commission has now agreed that the council size will stay the same, but is asking residents for their views on what new wards should look like. Officials there are asking people to tell them what facilities and issues are shared between communities, whether new developments have changed the focus of an area and if geographic features form strong boundaries between places. Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We want people in Coventry to help us. We are starting to draw up new wards for Coventry. 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. It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us.

“Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved.”

People can give their views via this link: www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/ coventry.

Feedback is also possible via email to reviews@lgbce.org.uk, or post to The Review Officer (Coventry), LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE. The consultation runs until 31 July 2023. The Commission will be looking for more feedback later once it has drawn up the plans.

The Commission also confirmed the number of councillors in Coventry will remain the same at 54. This is in line with what the council recommended in a submission to the organisation earlier this year. The report stated that each councillor here represents 4,300 electors - a higher ratio than most comparable local authorities. Just under a third of councillors the authority surveyed feel they have enough time to carry out the role. Some only have enough time because they are retired, work part-time or have flexible jobs.

However, most councillors didn’t want the council to grow further and adding more councillors would have “a financial implication,” the report added.