The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what the city’s communities think about their local area.
A 10 week consultation on proposals for the city council’s electoral wards will run until 1 November 2021.
The commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries, and the last review took place in 2003. Since that time Brighton & Hove’s communities have changed, and population has grown.
Boundary reviews help make sure:
- councillors represent about the same number of electors
- ward arrangements help the council work effectively
- ward patterns reflect community ties and identities.
The commission will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new council ward boundaries.
Representing your community
Speaking about the review, Leader of the Council, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty strongly encouraged residents to take part: “The geographical areas which are used to elect city councillors often have important and historic community ties and hold a place in resident’s hearts.
"And we want to see these areas, or wards as they are called, faithfully represent how people think and feel about their community. It’s really important that how geographical areas are grouped together for elections makes sense to the people living there.
“Councillors also need to represent a similar number of local residents to ensure the needs and interests of all of the city’s communities - whether they are in the suburbs, the city centre, in Hove or Brighton - are fairly represented.
“The last review took place in 2003 and our population has grown and demographics have changed so I welcome this opportunity to review ward boundaries and council size to strengthen local democratic representation.”
Tell the boundary commission your views
The commission is interested in your views on which communities should be part of the same electoral ward.
What facilities do people share in your neighbourhood, 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 built or natural features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?
Take part in the Brighton & Hove electoral wards consultation.