Have your say on a new political map for Somerset Council

A public consultation has been launched to help shape new council divisions for Somerset Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England wants to hear people’s views on where they live, to help make sure that the new divisions reflect the size and shape of local communities. 

An electoral review is being carried out to make sure that each local councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that the divisions they represent reflect community identities. 

The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Somerset Council should be 96. This is a change from the current council, which has 110 members.

Launching the consultation on the electoral review of Somerset Council, Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, said:   

“We are looking for your views, as local people, on how you think Somerset should be represented in divisions that reflect local communities and identities.  

“By telling us about where you live and where you access local services, it will help us to create appropriate and meaningful boundaries.   

“It might be something as straightforward as where you go for shops, schools or a sporting venue, whether you see a road, park or river as a dividing feature or the heart of a community, or which areas have joint projects. 

“Hearing from local residents will give us important evidence to inform our recommendations for a pattern of divisions for Somerset that ensures each councillor represents about the same number of electors.”   

The consultation on this stage of the electoral review of Somerset Council lasts for ten weeks and closes on 20 January. The Commission will use local views to help draw up their proposals for new division boundaries.  

Local people can provide their views via the Commission website at: Somerset | LGBCE

by emailing reviews@lgbce.org.uk  

or by post to: 

Review Officer (Somerset)

The Local Boundary Commission for England  

7th Floor  

3 Bunhill Row  

London  

EC1Y 8YZ 

ENDS 

Notes to editors:   

The consultation on the electoral review of Somerset Council is being held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, an independent body directly accountable to Parliament. 

This consultation relates to the arrangements for local government elections. It is separate from consultations that have recently taken place across England on arrangements for parliamentary elections.  

An electoral review consultation typically has two stages:  

• The first stage asks for views on a broad range of issues affecting the local area, which the Commission then uses to draw a map of proposed local boundaries.  

• The second stage of consultation then provides a chance for local people to comment on the Commission’s proposals before they are finalised and laid before Parliament, to be made into law. 

For further information and images, please contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525 / 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk

For more information on the work of the Commission, please watch this short film: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLHmAflEDPE 

An interactive map is available at:

Somerset | LGBCE