A public consultation has today been launched to help shape new council wards for Westmorland and Furness Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England wants to hear people’s views on where they live, to help make sure that the new wards reflect the size and shape of local communities.
An electoral review is being carried out to make sure that each local councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that the wards they represent reflect community identities.
The consultation on the electoral review of Westmorland and Furness is being held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, an independent body directly accountable to Parliament.
This consultation relates to the arrangements for local government elections with Westmorland and Furness council.
It is also separate from consultation carried out on arrangements for parliamentary elections that resulted in the new Penrith and Solway parliamentary constituency.
An electoral review by the commission as two stages with the first stage asking for views on a broad range of issues affecting the local area, which the Commission then uses to draw a map of proposed local boundaries.
The second stage of consultation then provides a chance for local people to comment on the Commission’s proposals before they are finalised and laid before Parliament, to be made into law.
Following an earlier consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council, the Commission concluded that Westmorland and Furness needs 65 councillors to be able to operate effectively. This is the same number as it has now so the number will remain the same but the the review could change the shape and number of councillors in wards across the council district depending on views and suggestions put forward to the commission during the consultation process.
Launching the consultation on the electoral review of Westmorland and Furness Council, Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, said:
“We are looking for your views, as local people, on how you think Westmorland and Furness should be represented in wards that reflect local communities and identities.
“By telling us about where you live and where you access local services, it will help us to create appropriate and meaningful boundaries.
“It might be something as straightforward as where you go for shops, schools or a sporting venue, whether you see a road, park or river as a dividing feature or the heart of a community, or which areas have joint projects.
“Hearing from local residents will give us important evidence to inform our recommendations for a pattern of wards for Westmorland and Furness that ensures each councillor represents about the same number of electors.”
The consultation on this stage of the electoral review of Westmorland and Furness lasts for ten weeks and closes on 4 November 2024. The Commission will use local views to help draw up their proposals for new ward boundaries.
There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up their proposals. This second stage of the public consultation is expected to start on 4 March 2025.
Local people can provide their views via the Commission website at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/westmorland-and-furness
by emailing reviews@lgbce.org.uk
or by post to:
Review Officer (Westmorland and Furness)
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England
7th Floor
3 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8YZ
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