Somerset Council has decided not to provide any further input on the ongoing review of the county’s local election boundaries. Describing the government-led consultation process as “laborious, brutal and challenging,” council members have expressed significant frustration and have chosen to stand by their original submissions rather than engage in additional exchanges.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is tasked with redrawing Somerset’s political map ahead of the 2027 local elections. This includes reducing the number of councillors on Somerset Council from 110 to 96. The initial consultation phase ran from early June to mid-August 2024, with final recommendations originally slated for publication in December 2024. However, the commission announced a delay, pushing the report back to March 2026 and reopening consultation until January 14, 2026.
The reopening of consultation followed the discovery that the LGBCE had “initially, and incorrectly,” assumed that Somerset Council preferred predominantly single-councillor divisions — a preference no councillors or senior officers had formally expressed. This misunderstanding is significant because single-councillor divisions would reshape electoral boundaries differently than the current multi-councillor divisions model.
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At the council’s constitution and governance committee meeting held on December 4 in Taunton, members discussed the matter extensively. Councillor Ross Henley, chairman of the committee, highlighted the frustrations faced by councillors and recommended against forming another working party or submitting additional formal responses. “We’ve already made our position perfectly clear,” he stated, encouraging other interested stakeholders such as parish councils, political groups, and the public to participate in the consultation if they wish.
Councillor Tim Kerley echoed the sentiment, warning that reopening submissions could “risk opening Pandora’s Box” and create further difficulty. By limiting their own responses, the council aims to strengthen its original case.
Concerns were also raised about the LGBCE’s boundary proposals potentially ignoring new housing developments. Councillor Helen Kay pointed out that recent expansions, including in areas like Keyford within Frome, were not reflected in the draft maps. She emphasized that electoral wards should account for residents’ sense of local identity and community boundaries.
Councillor Emily Pearlstone praised the extensive work council members invested in the process, urging the commission to respect their efforts and avoid causing “any more grief.”
The LGBCE encourages public involvement and invites stakeholders to contribute to the consultation via their website, email, or postal mail. The final boundaries are expected to be submitted to Parliament for approval before the 2027 elections scheduled for May 6.