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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

FULL COUNCIL

8 DECEMBER 2021

REPORT OF THE DEMOCRACY AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON 23 NOVEMBER 2021

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY REVIEW – COUNCIL SIZE SUBMISSION

 

Issue for Decision

To consider the recommended council size of 48 and the supporting evidence provided, and decide whether or not the Council Size Submission document should be the Council’s formal submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Recommendations Made

That Council agrees to the following motion:

“That the Council Size Submission document, as attached at Appendix A to the reference, be approved as the Council’s formal submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as part of the Council’s Local Government Boundary Review.”

Reasons for Recommendation

At its meeting on 23 November 2021, the Democracy and General Purposes Committee considered the Council Size Submission document which was produced following three Member workshops on council size. The last of the three Member workshops achieved a council size recommendation of 48, with 75% voting in favour. Individuals and groups could submit their own size recommendation to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), but if the Council did not put forward their own submission there was a risk that a size would be imposed by the LGBCE that the Council did not support.

The Committee agreed that the evidence presented made a strong case for a size submission of 48.

Alternatives Considered and Why Not Recommended

The Council could decide not to make a size submission, but this would result in the Commission imposing a size on the Council or at least considering Council size with no input from the Council.

 

Background Documents

None

Appendices

Appendix A – Council Size Submission Document