SOUTHAMPTON residents are being asked to have their say on plans to increase the number of councillors in the city as a consultation is set close next month.

The number and size of wards as well as the number of councillors on Southampton City Council could change from 2023 following an all-out election. 

Plans are currently being drawn up and final proposals are expected to be unveiled next year.

But city residents are being urged to have their say in a public consultation set close on January 31. 

As reported, the review of the wards in the city is being carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)  “to ensure that councillors represent about the same number of people across the city”.

Councillors have so far backed plans to create one new ward which would see an increase in the number of councillors from 48 to 51.

But residents are being asked to tell the LGBCE which areas of the city should be part of the same ward, what issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common and which facilities do residents share. 

The commission will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new ward boundaries.

Residents will then be asked to have their say on the final proposals as part of another public consultation expected to be run next year.

The changes are set to be implemented in May 2023 following an all-out election.

Electoral boundaries in Southampton were last reviewed 20 years ago.