Number of Lincolnshire county councillors to be cut under new recommendations

A commission tasked with drawing up new electoral boundaries has supported a reduction in the number of Lincolnshire county councillors.

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

The commission’s draft recommendations propose that Lincolnshire County Council should have 70 county councillors in the future, seven fewer than present.

The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 70 single-member divisions across the county.

An eight-week public consultation on the recommendations has begun and will end on February 8, 2016.

The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new county council electoral divisions, division boundaries and division names across Lincolnshire.

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the commission’s website.

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 Lincolnshire 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 Lincolnshire 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.”

Residents who would like to make a submission, should email [email protected] or comment through the commission’s consultation portal online.

Alternatively, people can write to:

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