Have your say on the re-shaping of Suffolk County Council's ward boundaries

The number of councillors on Suffolk County Council is set to drop from 75 to 70 after the next local elections in 2021.

The changes will be shaped by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which has just launched a consultation asking local people for their help to draw up a new pattern of council divisions for Suffolk County Council.

The consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will re-draw division boundaries across the district.

The commission has also announced that Suffolk should have 70 councillors in future, five fewer than the current arrangements.

In drawing up new boundaries, the commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters.

The review also aims to ensure that the new council divisions reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Suffolk.

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new divisions for Suffolk.

“As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.

“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council division, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Suffolk, then this consultation is for you.

“If you’re interested in the way the county is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say.

“Your views will make a difference.

“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review, whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Suffolk or just a small part of the county.

“Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in March”.

Local people have until December 2 to submit their views in this consultation. The commission will then publish its draft recommendations in March 2020 and open a further phase of consultation with local people.

Visit consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.