Have your say on county boundaries

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people across Devon to comment on its draft proposals for new county council division boundaries.

An eight-week public consultation on the recommendations begins today and will end on 6 July 2015. The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new county council electoral divisions, division boundaries and division names across Devon.

The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Devon County Council should have 60 county councillors in the future, two fewer than the current arrangements. The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 56 single-member divisions and two two-member divisions across the county.

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at www.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 and libraries.

Max Caller CBE, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of electoral divisions across Devon and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations.

“Over the next eight 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 county councillor represents a similar number of electors so that everyone’s vote in county 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 Devon and that the pattern of divisions can help the council deliver effective local government to local people.

“We will consider all the submissions we receive whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole county or just part of it.

The Commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible in order to develop final recommendations for Devon County Council. If you would like to make a submission to the Commission, please write or email us by 6 July 2015:

The Review Officer (Devon)
LGBCE
14th floor, Millbank Tower
London
SW1P 4QP

Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk

Have your say directly through the Commission’s consultation portal: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/4141

Link to the dedicated web page for the Devon electoral review: www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-west/devon/devon-county-council