County council boundary shifts proposed for Surrey
Boundary changes could see some Surrey residents change wards for the next local elections.
Surrey County Council wards are to increase by over 1,000 residents per councillor by 2029.
Around 70% of ward boundaries will change as the Local Government Boundary Commission estimates an increase of nearly 90,000 people registered to vote.
The commission said the new layout, which would retain the 81 councillors, would help the council to carry out its functions more effectively by evening out the populations within each division.
Surrey County Council’s next election takes place in May 2025.
Currently, the Conservatives are the largest group with 49 councillors.
There are also 16 Liberal Democrats, two Green, two Labour, four Independents, and 13 from different resident associations and groups.
Approximately 876,454 eligible voters lived in the county in 2022, averaging at 10,820 electors per councillor.
The commission estimated this number will increase by nearly 90,000 by 2029, with just 24 ward boundaries out of 81 proposed to stay unaltered.
The changes become law once Parliament has approved them.
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