THE independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people how many councillors they think should represent South Hams Council in the future.

The six-week public consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will also consider changes to the number, names and boundaries of the council's wards.

The commission has considered evidence submitted to it by the council and political groups and is now consulting residents on a proposal that would see the authority represented by 30 councillors in future, 10 fewer than the current arrangements.

The commission is asking local people whether they think 30 is the right number of councillors for South Hams.

Max Caller, chairman of the commission, said: 'This is your chance to shape your council for the future.

'We are asking people across South Hams whether they agree that 30 councillors is the right number to represent the district in the future.

'We want to know if you think 30 is the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions effectively and whether it's the right number to represent the interests of all South Hams' communities.

'If you don't agree that South Hams should be represented by 30 councillors, we want you to tell us your alternative and why you think there should be more, or fewer, members of the council in the future.

'Once we've taken a view on the number of councillors, we will re-draw ward boundaries to accommodate those elected members and we'll be asking local people to have their say during that process as well.'

Further information about the review is available at http://www.lgbce.org.uk">www.lgbce.org.uk. Residents can have their say directly at consultation. lgbce.org.uk or email [email protected]">[email protected] to find out more.

The current phase of consultation closes on February 18.

Once it has considered the evidence provided by local people and organisations, the commission will publish its proposal on the total number of councillors in March and then begin to gather information to help draw up new ward boundaries.

The commission aims to publish its draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards for South Hams in August, when it will consult local people again.

Final recommendations are due to be published next January and the new electoral arrangements would come into effect for the council elections in 2015.

For further information and guidance on what sort of information the commission is looking for, go to http://www.lgbce.org.uk">www.lgbce.org.uk.