Shake-up could see two more borough councillors for Tewkesbury
EXTRA councillors could be brought in for Tewkesbury residents as part of a shake-up of the borough's boundaries.
Two more politicians could be introduced to the authority, as part of a review of the current system.
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But the number of wards could be cut by five under proposals being considered by the Boundary Commission.
The governing body, which is responsible for conducting reviews of the electoral arrangements of local authorities in England, has identified Tewkesbury Borough Council as needing to change its current set-up. It claims there are imbalances which have arisen, meaning a number of residents are no longer being represented by the correct number of councillors. According to the Commission, these imbalances can mean voters are either over-represented or under-represented.
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It wants to increase the number of Tewkesbury borough councillors from 36 to 38.
Proposals
The number of wards, however, would be slashed from 27 to 22, under the initial proposals being put forward.
In a report to the council, it said: "In 22 of the 27 wards, the number of electors represented by each councillor varies by more than 10 per cent from the average of the borough, and 15 wards vary by more than 20 per cent from the average.
"Tewkesbury Borough Council should have 38 councillors, two more than at present.
"There should be 22 wards, instead of 27 as at present."
But councillors fear that, with the Joint Core Strategy still to be set, it could radically alter the landscape of the borough too soon after any boundary changes take place.
Councillor Allen Keyte said he remembered the previous review by the Boundary Commission in 2000 and the changes that had been made at the time.
"I think we should tell them to go away and play football somewhere else," he added.
"But I'm sure that, if the commission decides it wants a review, there is little we can say to stop them."
A letter will now be written to the commission, asking for the review to be delayed.
Comments
by MarkC11
Thursday, June 14 2012, 9:15AM
“Ok so we now have TIG quotes 12 years out of date, but shwoing it as modern with a photo with no connection to the story. What next? A report on the floods and Noahs Ark as being contemporary?”
by TBCcomms
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 1:17PM
“To clarify, Tewkesbury Borough Council already has 38 councillors. The quote used in the article above, which is from a Boundary Commission report to the council, was from a review back in 2000. The review in 2000 recommended that the council should have 38 councillors. The council took this on board in the 2003 borough elections, and now currently has 38 councillors.”
by Shireresident
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:15AM
“Too right Mark, but neither scenario is terribly surprising now is it? As for more councillors on TBC, I doubt it will make a haporth of difference to the services provided.”
by MarkC11
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:30AM
“sloppy reporting TBC already has 38 Cllrs. Or if the Council does not know how many Cllrs it has then that is equally worrying.”