Consultation begins on cutting councillor numbers

A consultation on reducing the number of members on North Yorkshire Council has begun.

The Local Government Boundary Commission is proposing cutting the number of councillors from 90 to 89.

The proposal would include 85 divisions, each represented by a single councillor, and two further wards which would each have two councillors.

The proposals are based on submissions from North Yorkshire Council, political groups and others, including parish council and residents.

The commission said the new two-councillor divisions would be Sherburn in Elmet and South Milford, and Malton and Norton.

Most of the existing division boundaries are also set to change.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the body has favoured proposals submitted by the Liberal Democrats over suggestions made by the council.

Those include a reconfigured North Richmondshire division, a revised Richmond division, and the creation of a new Brompton and Scorton division

Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the council, said the authority was still examining the draft proposals.

"It's going to take some time to see what implications there are, and why the proposals have changed from the council submission - if that is the case."

Clive World, chairman of Richmond and Northallerton Liberal Democrats, said: "Community should come first when it comes to setting boundaries, so it's good to see that's what has taken priority, and that common sense has prevailed."

Officials say boundaries are being reviewed to ensure each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors.

Andrew Scallan CBE, deputy chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, said: "We have drawn up proposals for new divisions in North Yorkshire.

"We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities."

He urgeed residents to let them know if they backed the proposals, ahead of any a final decision being taken.

A ten-week consultation on the draft plans runs until 9 June.

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