THE NUMBER of councillors in Warwick district is set to be cut.
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its final recommendations – following two phases of public consultation – for new electoral arrangements for Warwick District Council
The commission’s final recommendations propose that Warwick should be represented by 44 district councillors in the future – two fewer than the current council make-up.
The recommendations also propose those councillors should represent 11 three-councillor wards, five two-councillor wards and one single councillor ward across the district.
Commission chair Professor Colin Mellors said: “We are extremely grateful to people across Warwick who took part in the review. The commission has looked at all the evidence that was put forward during each stage of consultation.
“We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout Warwick.”
In response to local feedback during consultation, the commission has changed the proposals it put forward in April.
There were objections to the commission’s recommendations in Leamington which argued they divided the area of Lillington between Leamington Milverton ward and Leamington North ward. In response the commission has changed its proposals so the whole area is included in a renamed Leamington Lillington ward.
The commission also listened to arguments made by local parish councils that Old MIlverton & Blackdown Joint Parish Council should be included in wards with Leamington rather than in a rural ward as previously proposed.
Elsewhere in the district, the commission has made a minor change to its proposed boundary between Aylesford and Saltisford wards so the division between them is more identifiable. The commission has also renamed its proposed Warwick Woodloes ward as Warwick All Saints & Woodloes ward.
The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament. A draft Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the coming months. The draft Order provides for the new electoral arrangements to come into force at the council elections next year.
Visit www.lgbce.org.uk for full details of the final recommendations and other changes to the draft proposals.
