Public consultation on wards shake-up
HALTON’S number of councillors is poised to be cut by two as plans to redraw the borough’s ward boundaries were announced.
Consultation is now under way over the Local Government Boundary Commission For England’s (LGBCE) proposals and what changes residents would like to see.
Under the plans, Halton would have 54 councillors – two fewer than it does at present.
The Weekly News revealed in May that Halton Borough Council was considering whether to bring in the reduction following a review.
A spokesman for the commission said the goal of the redrawing the boundary map is to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each council- lor represents roughly the same number of voters.
The review also aims to ensure that the council wards ‘reflect as far as possible the interests and identities of communities across Halton’.
Topics the commission is looking to find out about include suggestions of where the ward boundaries should be, which areas residents identify as their ‘local community’ and where the inhabitants go to access facilities such as shops and leisure facilities.
Draft recommendations are due to be published in November, followed by a further phase of public consultation.
The redrawn wards are scheduled to come into effect at the 2020 council elections.
Professor Colin Mellors, LGBCE chairman, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Halton.
“As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.
“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you.
“And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Halton, then this consultation is for you.
“If you’re interested in the way the borough is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say.
“Your views will make a difference.
“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review, whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Halton or just a small part ● of the borough.
“Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in November.”
Halton residents have until September 3 to submit their views in the consultation.
For more information or to view interactive maps visit consultation. lgbce.org.uk and www. lgbce.org.uk