Views of people across South Kesteven are being sought on a proposal to reduce the number of district councillors from 58 to 55.
The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has launched a six-week public consultation as the first part of an electoral review which will also consider changes to the number, names and boundaries of South Kesteven District Council’s wards.
Commission chairman Max Caller said: “This is your chance to shape your council for the future.
“We are asking people across South Kesteven whether they agree that 55 councillors is the right number to represent the district in the future. We want to know if you think 55 is the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions effectively and whether it’s the right number to represent the interests of all the district’s communities.
“If you don’t agree that South Kesteven should be represented by 55 councillors, we want you to tell us your alternative and why you think there should be more, or fewer, members of the council in the future.
“Once we have taken a view on the number of councillors, we will re-draw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we will ask local people to have their say during that process as well.”
The commission has already considered evidence submitted to it by SKDC. Its proposals on the total number of councillors will be published in May, followed in October by draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards for South Kesteven. This will be consulted on and final recommendations will be made in March 2014. New electoral arrangements would come into effect for the council elections in 2015.
* Have your say online via consultation.lgbce.org.uk, e-mail reviews@lgbce.org.uk or write to: The Review Officer (South Kesteven), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG. The consultation closes on April 8.
* For further information, visit www.lgbce.org.uk