Councillors lost in local authority boundary change

The shape of Durham County Council is changing

Nearly 30 councillors could be cut from a north-east England local authority if plans submitted to the government are approved.

The Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC), which is redrawing ward boundaries, recommended Durham County Council has 98 councillors serving 51 divisions.

The Consett, Teesdale and West Auckland areas would see the most significant changes. 

LGBC chairman Prof Colin Mellors said the independent body had considered local views and this had "helped us improve our earlier proposals".

Prof Mellors said: “We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”

The current make-up of the county consists of 126 councillors across 63 divisions, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The final proposals would mean a loss of 28 members.

The commission said the revised boundaries would ensure councillors represented the same number of electors.

The proposed new Durham County Council ward boundaries

The LGBC report suggests changes to most division boundaries.

Nine of the proposed 51 areas would have three councillors, 29 would have two, and 13 would have one.

The commission received 371 consultation responses from residents, organisations and political groups.

Initial proposals revealed in May detailed plans to reduce the number of divisions to 48 before it was revised to 51. 

Once the changes are approved, council officers are expected to ensure the new arrangements are in place for the 2025 local elections.

The county's parliamentary constituencies could also change, with a new Blaydon and Consett constituency replacing North West Durham, and Sedgefield replaced by Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor.