THE INDEPENDENT Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for East Hampshire District Council.
They will be in place in time for the council elections in May 2019, said the commission.
The recommendations follow two public consultations on draft proposals and draws new boundaries for each council ward across East Hampshire.
The boundaries and councillor representation in all but three of East Hampshire’s current council wards will change as a result of the review.
The final recommendations propose that East Hampshire should be represented by 43 district councillors in the future: one fewer than now.
They also propose that those councillors should represent two three-councillor wards, eight two-councillor wards and 21 one-councillor wards across the district.
Commission chairman Professor Colin Mellors said, “We are extremely grateful to people across East Hampshire who took part in the review. The commission has looked at all the evidence that was put forward during each stage of consultation.
“We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout East Hampshire.”
In response to local feedback during consultation, the commission made changes to the proposals it put forward last October, and in its final recommendations confirmed seven one-councillor wards for Alton.
The commission also proposes a Rowlands Castle ward to be represented by one councillor.
The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by parliament, and a draft order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be heard in parliament in the coming months.
The draft order provides for the new electoral arrangements to come into force at the council elections in 2019.
Full details of the final recommendations are available on the commission’s website at: www.lgbce.org.uk.