Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council area - Review of Electoral Arrangements Public Consultation

Closed 2 Dec 2019

Opened 10 Sep 2019

Contact

Boundaries Scotland

0131 244 2001

boundaries.scot@scottishboundaries.gov.uk

Results updated 1 Jun 2021

Our Final Proposals for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council area:
• reduce the imbalance in the number of electors per councillor throughout the area. Three wards have forecast variation from parity of over 10% compared to six wards at present;
• reduce the number of councillors from 31 to 29 while increasing the number of wards from 9 to 11;
• retain the existing boundary of the An Taobh Siar agus Nis ward;
• retain five ward names: An Taobh Siar agus Nis; Loch a Tuath; Sgìre an Rubha; Steòrnabhagh a Tuath; and Steòrnabhagh a Deas;
• adopt the recognised Harris-Lewis boundary as a ward boundary; and
• take account of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2020 by using the flexibility offered by 2-member wards to better reflect local ties throughout the council area and present 2-member wards in: Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh; Na Hearadh; Sgìr’ Ùige agus Carlabhagh; Sgìre nan Loch; Sgìre an Rubha; and Uibhist a Tuath.

Links:

Overview

We have conducted a Review of Electoral Arrangements for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council area.

The Review recommended to Scottish Ministers the number of councillors and ward boundaries for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council.

The public consultation ran from September until December 2019.

Why your views matter

One of the main reasons we undertake reviews is that the population, and therefore the electorate, of any local authority area is constantly changing, with migration into or out of areas as well as within the same area. As a result of these changes, some councillors may represent considerably more or fewer electors than other councillors in the same council area.

The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 introduced the use of one or two member wards where a ward containing an inhabited island, in addition to the current multi-member ward system. The Act requires us to review the six Councils containing inhabited islands, including Na h-Eileanan an Iar, as soon as possible.

We expect our recommendations, if accepted, to be in place for the next local government elections in May 2022.

What happens next

Thank you for your views. 

The Commission will consider all responses to the consultation as it develops its final recommendations for Scottish Ministers.

The recommendations, if accepted, will be in place for the next local government elections in May 2022.