News from The Local Government Boundary Commission
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people across London Borough of Bromley to comment on its draft proposals for new council ward boundaries.
The commission’s plans would mean changes to all of the wards in Bromley.
A 10-week public consultation on the recommendations begins today and will end on 6 January 2020. The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council wards, ward boundaries and ward names across Bromley.
The commission’s draft recommendations propose that Bromley should have 58 councillors in future: this is 2 fewer than now. The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 15 three-councillor wards, 6 two-councillor wards and 1 one-councillor wards across the council.
The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the commission’s website at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk. Hard copies of the commission’s report and maps will also be available to view at council buildings.
Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of wards across Bromley and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations.
“Over the next 10 weeks, we are asking local people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or if not, how they can be improved.
“Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters. This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people, so that everyone’s vote in council elections is worth roughly the same, regardless of where you live.
“We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Bromley and that the pattern of wards can help the council deliver effective local government for local people.
“We will consider all the submissions we receive, whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole council or just a part of it.
The commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible to develop final recommendations for Bromley. If you would like to make a submission to the commission, please write or email by 6 January 2020.
The Review Officer (Bromley)
LGBCE
1st Floor, Windsor House
50 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0TL
Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk
Follow the commission on Twitter: @LGBCE
Have your say directly through the commission's consultation portal
For further information contact the commission’s press office on: 0330 500 1250 / 1525 or email: press@lgbce.org.uk
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements, defining boundaries for local elections and the number of councillors to be elected, as well as conducting reviews of local government external boundaries and structures.
- The commission has a legal duty to conduct an electoral review of every local authority in England ‘from time to time’. Like many other London boroughs, Bromley has not undergone a review since 1999. The Commission has therefore decided to complete a review before the next scheduled London local elections in 2022.
- The types of questions the Commission is asking residents at this stage are: Do the proposed wards reflect local communities? How do you think the proposals can be improved whilst maintaining electoral equality? Are the names of the proposed wards right?
- Residents have from 29 October 2019 until 6 January 2020 to have their say about where ward boundaries for Bromley should be drawn. The Commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations in March 2020. Once the Commission agrees its final recommendations it will lay a draft order in both Houses of Parliament. Parliament will then have 40 days in which to consider the recommendations. If both Houses are satisfied with the recommendations, the draft order will be ‘made’ and the new wards will come into effect at the council elections in May 2022.