Public to have their say in shake-up of Colchester City Council

Colchester City Council
-Credit: (Image: Google Maps)


Plans are being considered to shake up Colchester City Council, with residents being urged to make their voices heard on the proposals. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, an independent body set up by Parliament, is considering changes to the council, as well as a number of other authorities.

The Commission will use local views to help draw up their proposals for new ward boundaries. The review will look at the new ward boundaries across the council, suggestions about where your ward boundaries should be, where people go to access local facilities, and which areas you identify as your local community. The recommendations are set to be considered by Parliament, and a draft order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, the new electoral arrangements will come into force at the local elections in 2026.

Previously, the reviewer received 55 submissions during consultation on the draft recommendations. At the time issues raised focused on the boundary between the proposed Highwoods and St Anne’s and St John’s wards, and the proposed Christ Church ward. The independent reviewer also received responses about the proposed warding patterns to the south and east of the urban centre.

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Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, said: “By telling us about where you live and where you access local services, it will help us to create appropriate and meaningful boundaries. Hearing from local residents will give us important evidence to inform our recommendations for a pattern of wards for Colchester that ensures each councillor represents about the same number of electors.”

Pamela Donnelly, Colchester City Council chief executive, said: “This is a great opportunity for the people of Colchester to let the Local Government Boundary Commission know about their local community and what areas they feel most connected to and why. Getting involved now will help to make sure that the boundaries they recommend reflect the community identities of our residents and provide a strong foundation for effective and convenient local government in our area.”

The consultation on this stage of the electoral review of Colchester City Council lasts for ten weeks and closes on October 7. The commission will use local views to help draw up their proposals for new ward boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up their proposals, expected to start in January.

You can have your say on the council's website.