A PLANNED shake-up of City of York Council has prompted mixed reactions.
Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas said her ruling Labour group were grateful for the Local Government Boundary Review Commission's (LGBCE) work on the authority's number of councillors and its electoral wards.
Opposition Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said while the commission kept some communities together his group were disappointed others had been carved up between wards.
Conservative leader Cllr Chris Steward said proposals to give York an extra councillor meant the LGBCE had opted for greater political bureaucracy after his group proposed cutting elected members.
Green activist Jenny Latchford said changes in Fulford and Fishergate meant voters there were now faced with a clear choice between her party and Labour in a new three-member ward.
It comes after the commission unveiled its final recommendations for York Council following a review launched last year.
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Final recommendations unveiled in September propose increasing the number of councillors in York by one to 48 and the number of wards from 21 to 23.
A new single-member Leeman Road ward would be created to cover the area where the York Central development, which includes at least 2,500 homes, is set to be built.
The new wards and number of councillors representing each:
- Acomb West - three councillors.
- Bishopthorpe - one councillor.
- Clifton - two councillors.
- Copmanthorpe - one councillor.
- Dringhouses East - one councillor.
- Dunnington - one councillor.
- Fulford & Fishergate - three councillors.
- Guildhall - three councillors.
- Haxby & Wigginton - three councillors.
- Heslington & University - two councillors.
- Heworth - three councillors.
- Heworth Without - one councillor.
- Holgate & Acomb East - three councillors.
- Huntington & New Earswick - three councillors.
- Leeman Road - one councillor.
- Micklegate - three councillors.
- Osbaldwick - one councillor.
- Rawcliffe & Clifton Without - three councillors.
- Rural West York - two councillors.
- Strensall - two councillors.
- Tang Hall & Derwenthorpe - two councillors.
- Westfield, Woodthorpe & Dringhouses West - three councillors.
- Wheldrake - one councillor.
The changes are set to come into effect in time for York's next local elections in May, subject to their approval by Parliament.
A map showing how City of York Council's boundaries could look if the Local Government Boundary Commission for England proposals are adopted (Image: Local Government Boundary Commission for England)
Draft recommendations were published in July following public consultations.
Labour council leader Cllr Douglas said the review was an independent process which saw the LGBCE look at how democracy would be best served in York.
The Labour council leader said: "It's unfortunate some councillors have not been able to recognise this independence due to the outcome not suiting their own party's political objectives.
"York Labour Party respects the commission's independence and thanks it for its work."
Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Ayre said proposals to increase the number of councillors came as households faced rising council tax bills and as the authority was under enormous financial pressure.
The opposition leader said: "The commission's own report talks about the importance of reflecting community identity, in several parts of York, however, these final recommendations recognise those communities and then draw boundaries that cut straight through them.
"That is deeply disappointing for the residents who took the time to explain how their communities actually work."
Conservative Cllr Steward said they had favoured changes which would have saved money, improved local accountability and resident engagement.
The Conservative said: "Unlike the other parties we favoured a reduction in the number of councillors and also much more individual rather than multi-member wards.
"However turkeys don't vote for Christmas and the commission was evidently influenced by numerous Labour and Liberal Democrat submissions which wanted greater political bureaucracy."
Green activist Ms Latchford said they had opposed merging Fulford and Fishergate but the change now meant voters faced a choice between her party and Labour.
The LGBCE said they were grateful to those who sent in their views during the review and they had considered every piece of evidence before making their final recommendations.
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