A CONSULTATION has began to see if voters in the Stroud district want to elect district councillors in one go as ward boundaries are set to change.

Currently a third of Stroud District Council’s (SDC) 51 members, representing 30 wards, are elected each year for a term of four years, with no scheduled district elections held in the fourth year.

Gloucestershire County Council elections are held every fourth year when there are no district elections.

Under the Localism Act 2011 SDC can change its electoral cycle from election by thirds to whole council elections, where all councillors would be up for election at the same time, once every four years.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is undertaking a review of the district’s wards and has stipulated that, if elections in thirds continue, the total number of councillors must be divisible by three, with three councillors per ward.

The new rule means rural wards would have to cover very large geographical areas so SDC has taken the decision to review the electoral cycle.

The consultation, which runs until March 21, 2014 can be completed online at: consultation.stroud.gov.uk

Alternatively forms are available from SDC’s offices at Ebley Mill and local libraries.