Tuesday 7 April 2026 | 4pm | Online via Zoom - resources now available
Resources from the webinar:
- Watch a recording of the webinar on Vimeo USING THIS LINK
- View the webinar slide deck (PDF)
- Read the webinar summary (part-AI-generated)
Consultation
The consultation is easy to complete with various fields identifying who you or your organisation are followed by a text box where you are asked to share your views. When putting forward a view you are urged to include evidence that supports your submission, for example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you explain why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.
The consultation will close on 1 June 2026. The Commission aims to publish draft recommendations in September 2026 followed by a further period of consultation on the draft recommendations. The new electoral arrangements will come into effect at the local elections in May 2029.
The consultation and more information is available on the Commission's website:
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is undertaking an electoral review of Dorset Council. The last review of the council was in 2018, and this review will ensure that the arrangements for electing councillors remain fair, representative, and reflect changes in electorate and community identity for the 2029 elections and beyond.
An electoral review considers:
- the total number of councillors elected to the council
- the number and boundaries of electoral areas (wards)
- the number of councillors for each electoral area
- the name of any electoral area
As part of the LGBCE's commitment to engaging with local stakeholders, they invite councillors of parish and town councils in Dorset to attend an online briefing via Zoom. The briefing will include a short presentation on the purpose, process and timeline of the review, followed by a Q&A. The first consultation will have opened by the time of the briefing and the LCBCE wants to ensure local councils in Dorset are informed and have the opportunity to contribute to the review at every stage.
Useful pre-reading on the LCBCE website:
- Changing wards and number of councillors a council has
- Guidance aimed at parish and town councils
- Review history for Dorset
Any questions before and after the briefing can be directed to Jonathan Ashby:
