Babergh ward boundary review

Where's Babergh?

Yesterday I went to Bildeston’s Chamberlin Hall on behalf of Sudbury Town Council to hear more about the review currently taking place with a view to changing Babergh District Council’s ward boundaries. 

The changes are being made at the council’s request so that it can reduce the number of councillors from 43 to 31.  This means that the number of residents per councillor will rise from 1667 currently to approximately 2400 in the future.

It is likely that all ward boundaries will change, and the Boundary Commission is now working on where they should be.  They are seeking help from Town and Parish Councils to draw up a pattern of wards on the basis of three criteria

1. Each ward should have a similar number of electors with a tolerance of plus or minus 10 percent of the average
2. Wards should represent the local interests and identities of the local communities, taking into account factors such as history, the location of local shops and other facilities such as schools and places of worship.  Concrete examples of the existence of a community would be useful.
3. The arrangements should lead to convenient and effective local government.  This means that the plans should be convenient for local councillors, not cross natural boundaries such as major roads or railway lines, not be too large geographically or contain too many separate parishes.

How to engage?

There will be two consultations of which this is the first.  There will be another when the Boundary Commission comes up with its draft recommendations.

 One can respond by letter, e mail or on-line.

The internet portal will contain maps and an interactive tool which will enable consultees to experiment with possible alternatives.

All submissions will be published.

Timetable

Preliminary Period: when the council size is agreed with Babergh.  (This stage is now complete, but can still be challenged through the consultation process)

Current consultation on ward boundaries (13^th June 2017 to 14^th August 2017)

Draft Recommendations published

Consultation on Draft Recommendations (3^rd October 2017 to 11^th December 2017)

Final Recommendations (which cannot be changed) (February 2018)

Order to be laid in time for May 2019 Elections

It was stressed that it is important to get involved with the process NOW.