Public consultation for new division boundaries in Derbyshire

Posted by: Belinda Hargreaves

Wed 24th January 2024

Residents across Derbyshire are being invited to have their say on a new political map for the county.
New boundaries are being proposed by the the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for council divisions in Derbyshire.
The Commission wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about the proposals and have begun a ten-week consultation on the proposals which is running until April 1, 2024.
A spokesman for the commission said: “The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Derbyshire County Council to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that division arrangements will help the council work effectively.
“The Commission is proposing that there should be 64 single-councillor divisions. Most division boundaries will change.”
They continued: “Proposed changes include: We are increasing the number of councillors for South Derbyshire from eight to nine, reflecting the growing electorate for this part of Derbyshire.
“We are proposing a revised division pattern for the town of Bolsover, to avoid the current arrangement which divides the town centre.”
Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We want people in Derbyshire to help us.
“We have drawn up proposals for new divisions in Derbyshire. We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.
“Residents and local organisations can help us do that. We would like them to let us know whether they agree with our proposals before we take final decisions.
“It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us.
“Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved.”
The Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can see the detail of the proposals and comment on the names of divisions and their boundaries.
This consultation relates to arrangements for local government elections. It is separate from the review of parliamentary constituencies that has recently concluded.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends “fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England.”
In doing so, it aims to: Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors; Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities; Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances; Reflect the request for single-member divisions.

For more details about the specific proposals for your area, go to here

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