People across Cambridgeshire can have their say on whether or not the number of councillors representing them on the county council is reduced.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England this week launched a consultation on draft proposals for new county council division boundaries which will see the number of representatives drop by eight.

The eight-week public consultation began this week and will end on July 6. The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new county council electoral divisions, division boundaries and division names across Cambridgeshire.

The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Cambridgeshire County Council should have 61 councillors in the future, eight fewer than the current arrangements. The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 53 single-member divisions and four two-member divisions across the county.

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk. Hard copies of the Commission’s report and maps will also be available to view at council buildings and libraries.

Max Caller CBE, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of electoral divisions across Cambridgeshire and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations.

“Over the next eight 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 county councillor represents a similar number of electors so that everyone’s vote in county 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 Cambridgeshire and that the pattern of divisions can help the council deliver effective local government to local people.

“We will consider all the submissions we receive whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the entire county or just part of it.

The Commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible in order to develop final recommendations for Cambridgeshire County Council. If you would like to make a submission to the Commission, please write or email us by July 6:

The Review Officer (Cambridgeshire), 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London. SW1P 4QP

Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk

Have your say directly through the Commission’s consultation portal: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/4143

Link to the dedicated web page for the Cambridgeshire electoral review: www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/eastern/cambridgeshire/cambridgeshire-county-council