VOTERS are being asked to consider boundary changes for new electoral arrangements that will reduce the number of county councillors.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England launched a 12-week public consultation yesterday on the recommendations that will end on October 10.

The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new electoral divisions, division boundaries and division names across Oxfordshire.

Draft recommendations propose that Oxfordshire County Council should have 63 councillors – a reduction of 11 from the current total of 74 county councillors.

According to the recommendations there will be 14 county councillors in Oxford City, 14 in Cherwell, 13 in South Oxfordshire, 12 in the Vale of White Horse, and 10 in West Oxfordshire.

John Tanner, Labour county councillor for Isis division, welcomed the proposed changes and said the number of county councillors representing Oxford voters would fall from 16 to 14.

He added: “I think the changes being proposed will provide equality in terms of the number of voters in each division and the proposed changes are based on real communities.

“In my division, Hinksey Park will be linked with Iffley village and Iffley Fields – at the moment I do not represent Iffley village.”

The commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations in January next year.

Once the commission agrees its final recommendations it will present a draft order in both Houses of Parliament.

If both Houses are satisfied with the recommendations, the draft order will be made and the new electoral divisions will come into effect at county council elections in May 2013.

Full recommendations and maps are available on the commission’s website at lgbce.org.uk and can also be found at county libraries.