Have Your Say On New Brighton & Hove City Council Wards

Tuesday, 24 August 2021 06:00

A new pattern of wards is being developed for Brighton & Hove City Council — and residents are being given the chance to have their say.

The Local Government Boundary Commission is reviewing Brighton & Hove to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively. It wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and identities.

The commission has decided there should be a total of 54 number of councillors in Brighton & Hove — the same as now.

A 10-week consultation on the proposals will run until November 1, 2021.

The commission is interested in views on which communities should be part of the same ward. What facilities do people share, such as parks, leisure centres or schools and shopping areas? What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic? Have there been new housing or commercial developments that have changed the focus of communities? And are there roads, rivers, railways or other features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?

The commission will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new ward boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the proposals have been drawn up.

Launching the consultation, Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:

“We want people in Brighton & Hove to help us. We are starting to draw up new wards for Brighton and Hove. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

“Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process.

“It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us.

“Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved.”

You can give your views at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/east-sussex/brighton-and-hove or by e-mail to reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post: The Review Officer (Brighton & Hove), LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE.