BOUNDARY CHANGES TO CROYDON COUNCIL WARDS?
Changes to ward boundaries in Croydon council could be made by the time of the next elections in May 2018.
The move could see some Conservative-held seats in the very south of the borough disappear.
The Boundary Commission say they are conducting the review to deliver electoral equality for voters in local elections.
“Every year, the Commission assesses electorate data for each local authority in England and we will intervene where ‘significant’ electoral inequality exists.
“Significant electoral inequality, sufficient to trigger a review, is where:
30 per cent (or more) of wards or divisions have an electoral variance of more than 10 per cent from the average for the authority and/or:
One (or more) ward or division has an electoral variance of more than 30 per cent from the average.
This review was requested by Croydon council. Four wards currently lie outside of 10 per cent in terms of electoral variances – these wards are Labour-held Broad Green (plus 11.4pc) and three Conservative-held wards: Coulsdon East (minus 13.1pc), Sanderstead (minus 10.2pc) and Selsdon & Ballards (minus 12.8pc). (Source: Boundary Commission briefing to Croydon council)
The preliminary stage of the Boundary Commission’s review is to consider the number of local councillors. This is followed by the formal stages of the review which involved consultation with the public and local organisations. There will be two opportunities, to submit your views about changes to wards in Croydon.
Firstly, you’ll be able to submit proposals, on new ward boundaries. The proposals received, will be used to by the Boundary Commission, to draw up draft recommendations. This part of the consultation will take place from: 27 September 2016 to 5 December 2016.
Secondly, you’ll be able to submit your comments, on the Boundary Commission’s draft recommendations. This part of the consultation will take place from: 7 February 2017 to 3 April 2017.
Further information about these consultations will be made available nearer the time.
The final recommendations will be published in June 2017, and they will be implemented for the next Council elections in May 2018.
The Boundary Commission is independent of Government, non-political and reports direct to Parliament. The Commission is responsible for running the review and makes its decision based on evidence submitted by the council, residents and political parties. (Source: Croydon council press release)
Further reading: Croydon Conservatives call for the number of councillors to be cut Croydon Advertiser 15/07/2016
