RESIDENTS can have their say on draft changes to the make-up of wards across the borough.


A 10-week consultation on the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) recommendations was launched on February 4 and runs until April 13.
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The commission is carrying out an electoral review of Reading Borough Council to deliver electoral equality for voters across the borough in local elections.
At the moment, some borough councillors represent many more, or many fewer, electors than their colleagues elsewhere in the borough.
The review aims to correct imbalances so that by 2025 the number of electors per councillor in a ward is within 10% per cent of the average for the authority.
The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council wards, ward boundaries and ward names across Reading.
The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the commission's website.
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Professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the Commission, said: "We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of wards across Reading and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations.
"Over the next 10 weeks, we are asking local people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or if not, how they can be improved.
"Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters.
"This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people, so that everyone's vote in council elections is worth roughly the same, regardless of where you live.
"We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Reading and that the pattern of wards can help the council deliver effective local government for local people.
"We will consider all the submissions we receive, whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole borough or just a part of it."
Reading Borough Council leader, councillor Jason Brock, said: "The development of major new housing schemes in some parts of Reading mean it is only right that ward boundaries should be periodically reviewed. The proposed changes will mean that each councillor would represent a more equally-sized electorate.
"This is important because we want everyone’s vote in council elections to count, regardless of where they live.
"I would urge residents to take some time to look at and comment on the updated proposals which have been put forward by the LGBC following a period of consultation last year. I’d also like to thank the Commission for its detailed work in Reading to ensure proposed new boundaries reflect the identities of local communities across the town."

Reading Chronicle:
The commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations in September 2020.
Once the commission agrees its final recommendations it will lay a draft order in both Houses of Parliament.
Parliament will then have 40 days in which to consider the recommendations.
If both houses are satisfied with the recommendations, the draft order will be ‘made’ and the new wards will come into effect at the council elections in May 2022.
The proposed changes will not impact on the up and coming local elections in May 2020.