A review of the electoral arrangements for the new Cheshire East unitary authority is currently being conducted by the independent Boundary Committee
The review commenced on February 24th 2009, draft recommendations have just been revealed, including those for Alderley Edge, and the Boundary Committee are now asking people in Cheshire to comment on the proposed new local electoral arrangements.
Max Caller, Chair of the Boundary Committee, said: "Having fair electoral boundaries is important, especially given that the new unitary authorities in Cheshire are less than a year old. Our reviews aim at ensuring electoral equality, meaning that each councillor should represent a similar number of people."
Earlier in the year local authorities in Cheshire East (the unitary authority and parish and town councils) together with other interested parties, were invited to submit proposals on both the size of council and the areas that each councillor should represent.
Having considered these proposals, draft recommendations have now been produced, which include a council size of 82 elected members for the new Cheshire East authority.
In Alderley Edge the Council proposed a two-member ward to cover Alderley Edge, the parish of Chorley and part of the south of Wilmslow. However, The Boundary Committee considered that "the Council’s proposal would not provide a clear ward boundary and would appear to unnecessarily divide communities in the south of Wilmslow in order to combine part of the area with Alderley Edge."
Instead, as part of their draft recommendations, the Boundary Committee are proposing a single-member ward for the area, with the same boundaries as Alderley Edge parish. With the exception of the Council’s proposal, all the proposals received also suggested that Alderley Edge should have a single-member ward for the whole parish.
Max Caller said "Now we want people to tell us what they feel the impact of the recommendations will be on their community, if they think they can be improved, and what those changes should be."
The full report, maps of the proposed new wards and details on how to submit proposals can be found on the Boundary Committee's website.
Comments are being accepted until 31 January 2010. The Boundary Commission will then formulate their final recommendations ready for publication in Spring 2010.
Thanks to Councillor Marc Asquith for bringing this report to my attention and keeping me on my toes in regard to local council issues.
