Final recommendations have been made for a major shake-up of ward boundaries in East Riding Council. The council is currently made up of 67 councillors and 26 wards.
Under the planned changes, the number of councillors will stay the same, but wards increase by two to 28. These will consist of 17 two-councillor and 11 three-councillor wards.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is the independent body that draws the boundaries. It has published its final recommendations, following a ten week consultation on draft proposals earlier this year.
Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in the East Riding of Yorkshire. We looked at all the views they gave us.
“They helped us improve our earlier proposals. We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”
145 comments were received from different people and organisations to shape the new boundaries. Changes in response to feedback include making the new Weighton & Holme Ward a three-councillor ward, at the expense of Beverley Rural, which will have two. Newbald, Hotham, and North Cave parishes have been added to Weighton & Holme, with residents’ feedback that they have no community identity with areas north of Beverley, as covered in Beverley Rural.
The boundary redrawing has been based on the principle that each councillor represents an average of 4,196 electors. There is a ten per cent leeway either side of this figure for each ward.
Under the recommended new ward boundaries, Beverley North will have the largest electorate of over 13,300, and East Wolds the lowest with just over 7,100. The changes become law once Parliament has approved them.
Staff at the council will ensure that the arrangements are in place for the 2027 elections, when all-out elections are next due for East Riding Council. Any by-elections before then will follow existing ward boundaries.
East Riding Council currently has no single party with a majority. However, the Conservatives are the largest party, and lead the council along with the Independent Group, who hold a cabinet position.
By: Ivan Morris Poxton, LDRS
