WOKINGHAM Borough Council has submitted its proposals for a new political map in Wokingham to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).
At a council meeting on Thursday, October 20, the council agreed to submit multiple options to the commission after a cross-party working group identified a difference of opinion on some ward arrangements.
Earlier this year, the LGBCE launched a public consultation for a new pattern of electoral wards for Wokingham borough.
In drawing up a pattern of electoral wards, the LGBCE seeks to make sure that each councillor represents a similar number of residents and boundaries appropriately and reflects community identity.
The commission suggested the borough retains 54 councillors, but reduces the number of wards from 25 to 18 so that each ward is represented by three councillors.
Cllr Prue Bray, executive member for children’s services, said: “What we have in front of us is this council’s view.
“It is by no means guaranteed that it is what the final scheme will look like. Although I think it would be fair to say that it is likely to carry some weight with the commission when they look at drawing up the actual scheme.”
Cllr Bray said the “most significant point of difference” in the cross-party working group was the Conservative members’ view that some wards should be represented by one or two councillors, instead of the three suggested.
She said: “While the majority of the working group opted for a structure of 18 three member wards.
“The Conservative members preferred 16 three member wards with the other six councillors split into two two member wards and two one member wards.
“For the areas where we did not achieve agreement, we have put both options in the report.
“One is the majority view and one is the option supported by the minority and this will allow the commission to consider both.”
Cllr Michael Firmager, Conservative councillor for Sonning, said he was unable to support the report as he felt it “failed to adequately recognise” rural communities.
He said: “In one member wards there is a better relationship with residents and a greater understanding and being able to focus on the issues.
“The single member wards of Sonning, Charvil, Hurst, Swallowfield, Barkham and Arborfield all work.
“Why is there a need to change and break up a very good system? If something is not broken, there is no need to replace it.”
Cllr Jim Frewin, Independent councillor for Shinfield South, said he recognised the amount of work that had gone into the report, but felt he was also unable to support it.
He said: “It is about what residents recognise as a community, not about a numbers game trying to balance out the number of residents per member.”
Cllr Bray said she recognised that some members would have particular concerns about their own wards.
She added: “No proposal is going to be perfect but we have done our best to accommodate everyone and please remember there will be further opportunities to effect this at later stages.”
The LGBCE will now consider the council’s proposal alongside those received from other bodies and individuals before formulating its draft recommendations, which will be published in February.
A further period of consultation will take place between February and April before the LGBCE’s final recommendations are published on June 27, next year.
Changes will come into effect from May 2024, when all 54 seats will be elected.
