Boundary Changes
i) Lower level (electoral ward/division) changes
Electoral wards/divisions are the building block of both administrative and electoral geography, as well as a basis for other geographies. However, their boundaries change frequently: in some years several hundred electoral wards or divisions are affected, and in the extreme case of 2002 no fewer than 1549 got changed! This potential for change can have serious implications when trying to keep track of statistics over time, so it is essential that all those who collect and manipulate data are familiar with its occurrence.
Rationale for boundary change
The fundamental principle of ward/division organisation is electoral equality, meaning that within a higher administrative area, each elector's vote bears a similar weight. As population sizes should be approximately equal and because people are constantly moving, so the boundaries need frequent review and alteration.
Diagram: the need for boundary change....
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| i) Existing wards A and B have equal populations: electoral equality. |
ii) Over time, changing settlement patterns mean that ward A has a much higher population than ward B. Electoral inequality results: individuals in ward A have far less personal say. |
iii) Boundary change: electoral equality is restored. It is population and not areal balance that is important. |
Process of boundary change
The review and definition of ward/division boundaries is carried out by different bodies in each country:
England
The Boundary Committee for England (BCFE) is a permanent body and changes can occur every year, usually on the first Thursday in May when local government elections take place. Wards/divisions may also be affected by parish boundary changes, which can occur throughout the year.
The BCFE works together with local authorities (LAs) to make recommendations for change. These must then be approved by the Electoral Commission. The changes are finally specified in a Statutory Instrument (SI).
As well as boundary changes, recommendations may also include new wards/divisions, changes to the total number of councillors in an LA, changes to the number of councillors representing each ward/division (multi-member wards are common in some administrations) and changes to the names of electoral areas.
Although population is the primary determinant, boundaries should be easily identifiable on the ground and thus often follow features such as rivers, major roads and railways. Community identities should be taken into account, meaning that a smaller road may run through rather than delineate a ward/division. In addition the boundaries of parishes and parish wards must be considered. These factors mean that although electoral equality is the primary aim, in practice there can still be substantial variation of ward/division population size within an LA.
Wales
The equivalent body in Wales is the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales (LGBCW). This has a similar remit to the BCFE, but the National Assembly for Wales has responsibility for approving any recommendations.
The Welsh equivalents of 'electoral wards' and 'parishes' are 'electoral divisions' and 'communities' respectively. Electoral divisions must however be based on community boundaries (or, where they exist, the community council electoral subdivisions known as community wards). This means that if community boundaries change (as a result of a review by the relevant unitary authority), so must electoral division boundaries. In practice however community boundary change is infrequent, thereby limiting the number of electoral division changes occurring between Statutory Reviews.
Scotland
The responsible body in Scotland is the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS), which reports to the Scottish Executive. The LGBCS is also a permanent body but, as in Wales, it is rare for changes to occur between Statutory Reviews. Accordingly the last nationwide changes were implemented in 1999, with only minor modifications since.
Unlike in England and Wales, multi-member wards are not permitted. In addition, Scottish communities (which in any case are not defined by statute) have no influence on ward boundaries.
Northern Ireland
The responsible body in Northern Ireland is the Local Government Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. Note though that this commission undertakes one review every ten years and is disbanded during the intervening period.
ii) Higher level changes
As well as ward/division changes, the external boundaries of higher administrative areas can also be moved. In Wales and Scotland changes are proposed by the respective Boundary Commissions. In England however the BCFE has no role but change can result from agreement between adjacent authorities that a change to their shared boundary would be appropriate. Government approval is needed and the boundaries of all higher geographies, such as counties and GORs, will be moved too if applicable. The boundaries of the 4 constituent countries of the UK may not be changed.
From time to time much more substantial reviews of the whole local government structure are undertaken. These can lead to major boundary changes, creation of new administrative areas and splitting, merging or abolition of others. For more information on these processes, especially the changes resulting from the 1990s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), click here.
To get more idea of the frequency and volume of both lower and higher level changes occurring, and to see maps portraying this, you may be interested in the ONS Geography User Guide.
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This page last revised: Tuesday 7 November 2006
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