Public debate over reduction in number of councillors at East Lindsey District Council

PEOPLE living in The Wolds are being asked for their views on how many local councillors should represent them.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has launched a six-week consultation looking at proposals to reduce the number of councillors at East Lindsey District Council by five.

The public consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will also consider changes to the number, names and boundaries of all the council's wards.

The commission has considered evidence submitted by ELDC and is now consulting local people on a proposal that would see the authority represented by 55 councillors in future.

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Chairman of the commission, Max Caller, said: "This is your chance to shape your council for the future.

"We want to know if you think 55 is the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions effectively and whether it's the right number to represent the interests of all East Lindsey's communities.

"If you don't agree that the district should be represented by 55 councillors, we'd like you to tell us your alternative and why you think there should be more – or fewer – members of the council in the future.

"Once we've taken a view on the number of councillors for the district, we will redraw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we'll be asking local people to have their say during that process as well."

The current phase of consultation closes on October 15, 2012. Once it has considered the evidence provided by local residents and organisations, the commission will publish its proposal on the total number of councillors in November and then begin to gather information from local people and organisations on new ward boundaries across East Lindsey.

The commission aims to publish its draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards for East Lindsey in May 2013 when it will consult local people again for 12 weeks.

Final recommendations will then be published in late 2013 and the new electoral arrangements will come into effect for the council elections in 2015.

Acting chief executive at ELDC, Stuart Davy, said: "The review has been undertaken by the Boundary Commission to ensure the council has the right number of councillors to serve the community into the future.

"The review was prompted as some district council wards have many more residents than others due to changes in local circumstances over the years.

"I'd encourage everyone with an interest to have their say on the proposed number of councillors going forward."

To have your say on the proposals, visit www.lgbce.org.uk or write to The Review Officer (East Lindsey), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5LG.