HANDSWORTH PARK: NEW COUNCIL WARD BOUNDARIES

As part of its Electoral Review for Birmingham District, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has proposed that Handsworth Park be split in two separate wards, one part staying in Handsworth and the other being in a new Birchfield Ward.

The Commission has started a public consultation which will take place 15 January-8 February 2016 (*). ‘We are asking local people and organisations to comment on our draft recommendations for new ward boundaries across Birmingham.

We have an open mind about further suggestions from local people to change and improve these recommendations. We will consider all the submissions we receive whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole of Birmingham or just a part of the city.

Below (**), you can see our proposals for new ward boundaries. You can compare our proposals (in red) to the existing boundaries (in blue) and search across the whole of Birmingham, even down to street level. You can also click on any ward to find out how many voters are included in it and how many councillors we propose should represent it.

You can submit comments to us or upload a document by clicking on the ‘Have your say’ link at the top of the page. You can also draw your own boundaries and annotate the map by clicking on the button.

There is plenty of information to help you make a submission in the ‘Useful links’ section at the bottom right of the page.’ (**)

What do you think of the proposal?

Please ensure your comments/objections/suggestions are received before 8 February 2016.

– You can post them on:
https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/add/informed-representation/5688?bbox=392073.13344268,283497.2399765,418023.13344268,298497.2399765

Note: you do not have to alter the boundaries, you can just post your comments/objections.

– or email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk

– or write: Review Officer (Birmingham), LGBCE, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP.

The Commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations on 17 May 2016. 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 city council elections in 2018.

Upon receipt of your submission, you will receive an email stating: The Commission places great importance on ensuring openness and transparency in the way it deals with all representations. Full copies of all representations received will be made available for viewing on the Commission’s website, at www.lgbce.org.uk. These will be published shortly after this stage of the consultation closes. We remove all personal identifiers of individuals such as personal postal or email addresses, signatures or personal phone numbers from your submission before it is made public. However, we do not remove names. If you do not want all or any part of your response or name made public, please state this clearly in writing to us (email/letter) and we will endeavour to respect your wish.

* http://www.lgbce.org.uk/news/electoral-review/birmingham-residents-have-your-say-on-new-council-ward-boundaries

** https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/5688