LGBCE electoral review 2025

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is set to begin an Electoral Review of North Somerset Council. This is to ensure that local areas within the district are fairly and evenly represented. 

This review is  separate from the Community Governance Review that is currently in progress. 

About the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is responsible for conducting reviews of local government areas.

The LGBCE are independent to central and local government and political parties. They are directly accountable to Parliament through a committee of MPs chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

An electoral review examines and proposes new electoral arrangements for the whole local authority. 

This can include: 

• the total number of district councillors to be elected to the North Somerset council
  • this will then affect the eventual size of the council
• names, number and boundaries of district wards
• number of district councillors to be elected from each district ward.

The LGBCE may draw up new electoral arrangements if it thinks appropriate. This is to ensure the best balance based on our statutory criteria. 

This criteria includes three main elements:

1. delivering electoral equality for local electors
   • this means ensuring that each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors. This makes sure the value of your vote is broadly the same regardless of where you live in the local authority area.
2. interests and identities of local communities
   • this means establishing electoral arrangements which aim to avoid splitting local ties and maintain boundaries that are easily identifiable
3. effective and convenient local government
   • this means ensuring that the wards can be represented effectively by their elected representative(s) and;
   • that the new electoral arrangements, including both the council size decision and warding arrangements, allow the local authority to conduct its business effectively.

North Somerset council currently has 50 councillors representing 35 district wards, as outlined in the table on this page. 

You can view our current district ward boundaries using our interactive map.

The review will consider whether any changes need to be made to these wards, or the number of elected members overall.

As part of their review, the Boundary Commission will carry out a comprehensive consultation exercise. This will enable people in North Somerset to have their say on any proposed changes. 

Timetable

More information about this process will be shared on the Boundary Commission website once the review officially begins.