SOUTHAMPTON residents have been asked to have their say as plans to increase the number of councillors in the city are set to be drawn up.

The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Southampton should be increased from 48 to 51.

The move could result in a new ward being created in the city.

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

An initial public consultation is now under way and will close on January 31, 2022.

The commission  – which is the independent body that draws electoral  boundaries – said it wants to hear from Southampton residents about which communities should be part of the same ward.

Residents are also asked to tell the commission what issues different communities have in common, what facilities local people share – such as parks and leisure centres – and whether there are roads, rivers or railways that people believe form boundaries between neighbourhoods.

Residents’ views will be used to draw up proposals for new ward boundaries.

There will then be a second public consultation on detailed plans.

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said:  “We are starting to draw up new wards for Southampton. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

“Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process.”

Last mont Southampton councillors unaniously backed proposals to increase the number of councillors from 48 to 51 and to create a new ward, making 17 in the city.

At the time Cllr Satvir Kaur, leader of the opposition, descried the review as “a big deal” which would require all councillors to work together.

Boundaries in Southampton were last reviewed 20 years ago.