The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people in Stone for their views on a proposal to reduce the number of councillors who represent Stafford Borough Council, from 59 members down to 40.
The six-week public consultation – which ends on 2nd September – is the first part of an electoral review which will also consider changes to the number, names and boundaries of the council’s wards, including those that cover Stone.
Stone and its surrounding villages is currently served by 15 borough councillors in these wards:
- Barlaston and Oulton – two councillors
- Fulford – three
- St Michael’s – three
- Stonefield & Christchurch – two
- Swynnerton – two
- Walton – three.
The Commission has considered evidence submitted to it by the council and is now consulting residents on a proposal that would see the authority represented by 40 councillors in future, 19 fewer than the current arrangements.
Commission chairman Max Caller said: “We are asking people across the borough whether they agree that 40 councillors is the right number to represent Stafford Borough.
“We want to know if you think 40 is 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 the borough’s communities.
“If you don’t agree that Stafford should be represented by 40 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 redraw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we will ask local people to have their say during that process as well.”
Further information about the review is available at www.lgbce.org.uk and you can have your say directly at www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk or by emailing reviews@lgbce.org.uk
The current phase of consultation closes on 2 September 2013. 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 October 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 Stafford Borough in March 2014 when it will consult local people again. Final recommendations are due to be published in September 2014 and the new electoral arrangements would come into effect for the council elections in 2015.
