Boundary changes to election wards welcomed by Manchester City Council
- Manchester will keep same number of Councillors, 96, with three per ward
- A review of Manchester's ward boundaries was conducted in 2015 due to changes to the city's population and neighbourhoods since the last review in 2002
The number of Councillors sitting on Manchester City Council will remain the same after the independent Local Government Boundary Commission published its final recommendations on new ward boundaries for the Manchester area.
The Commission has statutory responsibility for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements in England. A review of Manchester's ward boundaries was initiated in 2015 due to changes to the city's population and neighbourhoods since the last review back in 2002.
The conclusion from the report sees Manchester retaining the same level of Councillors as before: 96 members. There will be three members per ward.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, welcomed the Commission's findings: “Manchester has been through a period of unprecedented growth over the past fifteen years.
"The City Council welcomes the Local Government Boundary Commission's final recommendations, which will allow Councillors to continue to represent residents and communities as the city continues to change and grow."
The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament.
A draft Order bringing into force the recommendations will be laid in Parliament in the coming months. The new electoral arrangements to come into force in May 2018, when voters in Manchester have the chance to elect all 96 Councillors.
Full details of the final recommendations are available on the Commission’s official website.