Number of Copeland Councillors to be cut from 51 to 33
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has announced today that they will reduce the number of councillors serving on Copeland Borough Council from 51 to 33 and opened a consultation on what the new wards should be on which they are elected.
This is in line with the position which had been unanimously supported by the Mayor and the former all-party executive of Copeland Borough Council but the issue of how many councillors there should be precipitated something close to civil war inside Copeland Labour party.
The council's fomer Deputy Mayor and Leader of the Labour group on CBC, Lena Hogg, resigned from the council following what one might tactfully describe as a serious disagreement in which the Labour group did not support the position of their executive members. As the row continued they went into majority opposition and suspended their members of the council executive for refusing to resign.
All for nothing, it would now appear, as the Local Government Commission has gone with the Executive's recommendation.
There now follows a consultation on the new boundaries using which the 33 councillors who form the new council will be elected from 2019 onwards.
In drawing up these new boundaries, the Commission has to try to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters.
The review also aims to ensure that the new council wards reflect the interests and identities of communities across Copeland.
Professor Colin Mellors, Commission chairman, said:
“We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Copeland. As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.
“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Copeland, then this consultation is for you."
He added:
“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Copeland or just a small part of the council area. Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in April 2018.”
Copeland residents now have until 12th February 2018 to submit your views.
The new boundaries and the reduction in councillor numbers will both come into effect at the local government elections on 2nd May 2019.
Further information about this review, and interactive maps of the existing wards, can be found at
consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.
This is in line with the position which had been unanimously supported by the Mayor and the former all-party executive of Copeland Borough Council but the issue of how many councillors there should be precipitated something close to civil war inside Copeland Labour party.
The council's fomer Deputy Mayor and Leader of the Labour group on CBC, Lena Hogg, resigned from the council following what one might tactfully describe as a serious disagreement in which the Labour group did not support the position of their executive members. As the row continued they went into majority opposition and suspended their members of the council executive for refusing to resign.
All for nothing, it would now appear, as the Local Government Commission has gone with the Executive's recommendation.
There now follows a consultation on the new boundaries using which the 33 councillors who form the new council will be elected from 2019 onwards.
In drawing up these new boundaries, the Commission has to try to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters.
The review also aims to ensure that the new council wards reflect the interests and identities of communities across Copeland.
Professor Colin Mellors, Commission chairman, said:
“We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Copeland. As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.
“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Copeland, then this consultation is for you."
He added:
“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Copeland or just a small part of the council area. Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in April 2018.”
Copeland residents now have until 12th February 2018 to submit your views.
The new boundaries and the reduction in councillor numbers will both come into effect at the local government elections on 2nd May 2019.
Further information about this review, and interactive maps of the existing wards, can be found at
consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.
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