Local residents are being invited to give their views on what their council will look like as the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England begins an electoral review of Swindon Borough Council today(20th July 2010).

The review will consider changes to the number of councillors on the council as well as the number and boundaries of the council’s electoral wards.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said:

• “Having fair electoral boundaries is important for local democracy.”
• “The purpose of a review is to try to ensure that each councillor represents around the same number of people and that every elector’s vote is worth the same. That’s not the case at the moment: Abbey Meads ward, for example, has 65% more electors per councillor than the average in Swindon, whereas Penhill ward has 15% fewer.”
• “We’ll also be looking to take into account local community identities. This is your chance to shape your council for the future.”

The first stage of the Commission’s consultation closes on 30th August 2010. During this stage, local people are being invited to comment – specifically – on how many councillors should serve the Swindon area in total.

Once it has considered the evidence provided by local people and organisations, the Commission will then publish its decision on the total number of councillors and invite further views on where new ward boundaries should be drawn. By April 2011, the Commission will publish draft recommendations for new wards across Swindon.

Following further public consultation on its draft recommendations, the Commission is likely to publish its final proposals by Autumn 2011.

Further information on electoral reviews and guidance on what sort of information the Commission is looking for should be available at council offices, in your local library, or the following website at www.lgbce.org.uk