January 7, 2014 2.39 pm This story is over 127 months old

How many councillors should represent Lincoln in the future?

Have your say: The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people how many councillors they think should represent City of Lincoln Council in the future.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people how many councillors they think should represent City of Lincoln Council in the future.

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

The commission has considered evidence submitted to it by the council and is now consulting residents on a proposal that would see the authority continue to be represented by 33 councillors in future.

The current phase of consultation closes on 17 February 2014.

Once it has considered the evidence provided by local people and organisations, the Commission will publish its proposal on the total number of councillors in April 2014 and then begin to gather information to help draw up new ward boundaries.

The Commission aims to publish its draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards for Lincoln in September 2014 when it will consult local people again.

Final recommendations are due to be published in February 2015 and the new electoral arrangements would come into effect for the council elections in 2016.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “This is your chance to shape your council for the future.

“We want to know if you think 33 is still 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 Lincoln’s communities.

“If you don’t agree that Lincoln should be represented by 33 councillors, we want 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 have taken a view on the number of councillors, we will re-draw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we will ask local people to have their say during that process as well.”

Residents can have their say directly at consultation.lgbce.org.uk, or email their views to [email protected].