Published Tuesday, 5th June 2018

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people across Reigate and Banstead to comment on its draft proposals for new council ward boundaries. 

LGBCE Boundary Review draft recommendations consultation map of proposed new wardsThe Commission’s plans would mean changes to all wards in Reigate and Banstead

Give your views on ward proposals

A ten-week public consultation on the recommendations begins today (5 June) and will end on 13 August 2018.

The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council wards, ward boundaries and ward names across Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council should have 45 councillors in future: this is six fewer than now.

The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 15 three-councillor wards across the borough.

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. 

Delivering electoral equality

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of wards across Reigate and Banstead and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations. 

“Over the next ten 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 Reigate and Banstead 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 borough or just a part of it.

How to have your say

The Commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible to develop final recommendations for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. 

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?

If you would like to make a submission to the Commission, please respond by Monday 13 August 2018.

You can follow @LGBCE on Twitter for updates.

Background

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 is carrying out an electoral review of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to deliver electoral equality for voters across the borough in local elections. At present, some borough councillors represent many more, or many fewer, electors than their colleagues elsewhere in the borough. The review aims to correct those imbalances. 

The Commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations in October 2018.

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 2019.

More information

For more information and to view the proposals please visit the LGBCE's website.