Cheshire east ward changes ‘are too costly’ (From Knutsford Guardian)

Cheshire east ward changes ‘are too costly’

2:50pm Thursday 29th July 2010

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CHESHIRE East Council has rejected proposals to nearly double the number of electoral wards in the area.

The authority says the Local Government Boundary Commission has failed to listen to the concerns of residents and councillors – and that the proposed changes would be too complex and costly.

Bosses from the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) proposed increasing the number of Cheshire East wards from 27 to 52 and boosting the number of councillors from 81 to 82.

Under its proposals, Cheshire East Council would have six three-member wards, 18 two-member wards and 28 single-member wards.

This would be to make ward representation ‘fairer and reflect expected shifts in population’.

But Cheshire East councillors voted by 48 votes to 18 to reject the LGBC recommendations on July 22.

Cheshire East Council Leader Wesley Fitzgerald said: “The Boundary Commission has failed to listen to our concerns or listen to the people of East Cheshire – and we want the Government to step in on our behalf.

“We accept the proposal to increase the number of councillors to 82 but we need to ensure that council wards reflect local community identities and the links between communities.”

Cheshire East has passed a resolution to ask Parliament to reject the recommendations and wants the boundaries to be revised at the same time as the 2014 Parliamentary Boundary Review.

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