Report recommends cutting number of councillors in Cornwall by a third

The number of councillors at Cornwall Council should be cut by almost a third – from 123 to 87, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has suggested.

The proposal follows an electoral review of the council carried out by the LGBCE.

Commenting on the report, Cllr Malcolm Brown, the chairman of the council’s Electoral Review Panel, said: "The number of councillors that should be on Cornwall Council from 2021 has been highly controversial ever since the Boundary Commission started its review last year.

“Many people in Cornwall, and a minority of Cornwall councillors, have always wanted the number of councillors to be reduced significantly from the present size of 123, so the Commission's proposal for there to be only 87 councillors has drawn some support.

“However, the majority of Cornwall councillors, both before and after this year's elections, strongly favoured a council size of 99 or more. The vast majority of parish and town councils also want Cornwall Council to have 99 councillors or more. It’s disappointing the Boundary Commission has ignored their views. This is a very sad day for the representation of local people in Cornwall.”

The Commission is now inviting people and groups across Cornwall to help produce a new pattern of divisions to accommodate 87 councillors.

People have until 19 February 2018 to submit their views on how the new divisions for Cornwall will be drawn up. Further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing divisions can be found on the LGBC consultation page.