Local Government boundary review
What is a boundary review?
A boundary review is conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) and they determine the following:
- total number of members to be elected to the council (council Size);
- number and boundaries of electoral areas (wards/divisions) for the purposes of the election of councillors;
- number of councillors for any electoral area of a local authority; and
- name of any electoral area.
The key aim for the review is to ‘ensure that the ratio of electors to councillors in each electoral ward is, as nearly as possible, the same’.
This aim is balanced with: ‘…the need to reflect local community identities and interests, and provide for effective and convenient Local Government.’
Next steps
The Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Maidstone should be 48. This is a change from the current council, which has 55 councillors.
A consultation has opened for residents and organisations to have their say on the proposals and will run until 4 April 2022. An online meeting was conducted by the Commission, explaining the process that will be followed to agree a new pattern of wards.
Launching the consultation in January 2022, Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:
We want people in Maidstone to help us. We are starting to draw up new wards for Maidstone. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process. It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can email 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 give their views.
Timetable
| Meeting | Date | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Council size submission - member workshop 1 | 7 September 2021 | Workshop to discuss council size options |
| Council size submission - member workshop 2 | 30 September 2021 | Workshop to discuss council size options |
| Council size submission - member workshop 3 | 17 November 2021 | Workshop to agree council size to be presented to |
| Democracy and General Purposes Committee | 23 November 2021 | Recommend size to council |
| Council | 8 December 2021 | Recommend size to LGBCE |
| Public presentation from LGBCE | 31 January 2022 | Direct engagement with Maidstone residents about the process of reviewing ward boundaries |
Boundary proposals – member engagement event | 18 February 2022 | Discussion with members about potential boundary changes |
Boundary Proposals – member workshop 1 | 22 February 2022 | Workshop to discuss ward boundaries |
Boundary Proposals – member workshop 2 | 28 February 2022 | Workshop to discuss ward boundaries |
| Democracy and General Purposes Committee | 9 March 2022 | Recommend boundary submission to council |
| Full council | 13 April 2022 | Approve boundary proposals to submit to LGBCE |
Relevant reports presented to the Democracy and General Purposes Committee and to full council:
Local Government boundary review – council size submission
- Democracy and General Purposes Committee, 27/07/21 - Webcast recording
- Democracy and General Purposes Committee, 23/11/21 - Webcast recording
Report of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee: Local Government boundary review – council size submission