The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has begun a consultation on ward boundaries for Rushcliffe Borough Council:

Today is the start of a 10-week public consultation inviting proposals for new council wards and ward boundaries for Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Our consultation will close on 19 July 2021.

After we have considered all representations made to us during this consultation, we intend to publish draft recommendations in October 2021.

We will then hold a further period of consultation on our draft recommendations. Our final recommendations are expected to be published in March 2022.

The new electoral arrangements will come into effect at the local elections in May 2023.

Have your say vow via our consultation portal

What is an electoral review?

Our electoral review will recommend new electoral arrangements for Rushcliffe Borough Council. We will propose:

• the total number of councillors elected to the council in the future;
• the number of wards;
• the number of councillors representing each ward;
• ward boundaries; and
• the names of wards.

How to get involved

This is a public consultation and we welcome views from individuals and organisations across Waverley on where they think new ward boundaries should be drawn.

We are minded to recommend that 44 councillors should be elected to Rushcliffe Borough Council in the future.

This is no change from the current number of councillors.

We are now inviting proposals to help us draw up a pattern of wards to accommodate 44 councillors.

In drawing up new electoral wards, we must balance three legal criteria, namely:

• to deliver electoral equality: where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the borough;
• that the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities;
• that the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government.

We will treat all submissions equally, and judge each case on its merits and against the legal criteria.

If you wish to put forward a view, we would also urge you to ensure that evidence supports your submission.

For example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you tell us why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.

There is more advice on our website  about how you can get involved in the consultation.

Our website features technical guidance that explains the process and our policies, as well as guidance on how to take part in each part of the process.

We have also set up a webpage dedicated to the review of Rushcliffe, where you can find all the relevant information.

 

Following the end of the Covid 19 emergency legislation allowing Councils to meet virtually, the Town Council is working to identify dates to hold the above meetings in person. The Council Chamber at the Old Court House isn’t big enough to accommodate Councillors and Officers let alone members of the public, who will all still need to observe social distancing. It is likely that both meetings will be held at the Methodist Centre. Once the logistics are finalised and the necessary risk assessments are in place. Agendas and supporting documentation will be released to the website.