MSDC recommends future Council Size

PR2332/TS/MF - 28/01/2021

Mid Sussex District Council has recommended that at least 48 elected Members should represent the District from 2023, a reduction of up to six.  

The Local Government Boundary Commission (England) is about to begin an Electoral Review of Mid Sussex District Council and the first step is for the local authority to suggest a future Council Size. Full Council met on Wednesday 27 January 2021 and Councillors approved a Council Size proposal of at least 48 elected Members.

Electoral Reviews are a statutory requirement and must take place regularly to ensure councils are able to conduct their business and provide effective representation of their electorate. The last Electoral Review of Mid Sussex District Council took effect in 2002.

The Council’s recommendation will now be formally submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission (England), so it can begin the Electoral Review of Mid Sussex District Council. The final decision on Council Size rests with the Commission but it encourages local authorities to actively engage with the process.

Mid Sussex District Council operates a cabinet model of decision making, as recommended by the Local Government Act 2000, with policies approved by the Cabinet sent to Full Council for agreement. The Council recommends that the same outcomes could be reached, with less resources required, if the number of Councillors is reduced by 10% to 15% and this is the suggestion that has been made to the Local Government Boundary Commission (England).

As part of the Electoral Review, the Local Government Boundary Commission (England) will make final recommendations to Parliament on the following:

- Total number of Councillors
- Total number of Wards
- Ward boundaries
- Number of Councillors elected to each Ward
- Names of each Ward

The Local Government Boundary Commission (England) is scheduled to complete the Electoral Review of Mid Sussex District Council in December 2022. Any changes to Ward boundaries or Polling Districts must be completed by summer 2022 to enable the new Electoral Register and Council Size to take effect at the May 2023 Local Government Elections.

ENDS