The Returning Officer submitted a report on an electoral review of the Council by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), and seeking approval for a Council Size submission to the review, which was attached to the report at Appendix C. The current timetable for the review was attached to the report at Appendix A, and a Members Briefing pack for Reading attached to the report at Appendix B.

The report explained that the LGBCE had given the Council notice that, based on its analysis of the 2017 annual canvass in Reading, it would be undertaking an electoral review of the Council, because over 30% of the authority’s current wards had a variance greater than 10% from the authority’s average ratio of elector.  Two wards – Abbey and Whitley – had an electorate which exceeded the average by more 25% and 15% respectively, and Redlands had an electorate which was lower than the average by more than 20%.  Church and Southcote wards had also been over 10% below the average.

The report explained that the first phase of the review was a discussion with the Council about the size of the Council (total number of Councillors), which required the authority to indicate whether it wished to retain elections by thirds, or to move to either election by halves or all-out elections.  Attached to the report at Appendix C was a proposed submission to the LGBCE on Council Size, which stated a preference for a Council of 48 Councillors, representing 16 wards of comparable size, with three Councillors per ward, based on the retention of elections by thirds. This would represent an increase of two Councillors from the current Council of 46 Councillors representing 16 wards, with 15 three-member wards which held elections by thirds and one Councillor elected every four years in the remaining ward of Mapledurham.

Resolved –

          That the Council Size Submission, as attached to the report at Appendix C, and its stated preference for a Council size of 48 Councillors representing 16 wards of comparable size with elections by thirds, be agreed and presented to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.