Redditch agrees ward proposals for future council elections

Redditch Borough Council has agreed its response to a Government request for electoral warding information as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

The Government confirmed this year that two new unitary authorities will replace Worcestershire's current district, borough, city and county councils.

As part of that process, interim electoral arrangements are needed so that the first elections to the new councils can take place. Longer-term ward arrangements would then be subject to a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

For now, the Government has asked councils across Worcestershire to provide interim warding information.

Across most of Worcestershire, using existing county divisions and having each return two councillors would produce the right number of elected members. However, Redditch's electoral geography means that approach would result in four councillors representing each ward.

Four-member wards are generally considered too large, reducing democratic accountability and making representation less clear for residents.

As a result, Redditch Borough Council's Electoral Matters Committee reviewed local community links and existing ward arrangements to identify an alternative solution.

Using Redditch’s nine existing borough wards as building blocks members considered six potential scenarios and, at Monday’s (August 10) meeting of the full council, a proposal comprising five two-member wards and two three-member wards was voted.

The proposal includes two-member wards based on the existing Astwood Bank & Feckenham, Headless Cross & Oakenshaw, North, Webheath & Callow Hill, and Winyates wards.

It also includes two three-member wards: Redditch Central West, combining the current Batchley & Brockhill and Central wards; and Redditch Central East, combining Greenlands & Lakeside with Matchborough & Woodrow.

The recommendation will now be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for consideration.

Councillor Matt Dormer, Leader of the Council, said: “This is an important and necessary step in ensuring people in Redditch are properly represented during the transition to new local government arrangements.

"Whatever structure the Government ultimately decides on for our area, it is vital to have future ward boundaries that reflect local communities and allow councillors to represent residents effectively.

"These proposals have that aim in mind and will help ensure Redditch has strong and effective democratic representation from day one."