RESIDENTS have less than two weeks to take part in a Community Governance Review of Stourport.

Wyre Forest District Council is carrying out a Community Governance Review (CGR) or the town following a request from Stourport Town Council - which perceives there to be anomalies in the distribution of seats on the town council.

Stourport Town Council is currently made up of 18 councillors and six wards. Following changes which were introduced after the Local Government Boundary Commission Review in 2014, there is a big difference in the number of people each councillor represents.

In the Stour and Wilden ward there are six councillors each representing around 550 electors, while in the Stourport North ward there are two councillors representing around 2,070 councillors each.

The CGR is being undertaken under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It looks at all issues relating to the governance of the area and not just the electoral arrangements.

The terms of reference for the CGR were published at the start of November - which include some possible alternative arrangements for the distribution of seats.

Ian Miller, returning officer, said: "We welcome all ideas and proposals for the governance of Stourport-on-Severn.

"We have included some suggestions for the numbers of councillors per ward in the CGR terms of reference but this is just to give people an idea of possible alternatives to the current set up.

"The responses to the consultation will be discussed by full council at its meeting on Wednesday, February 22."

Wyre Forest District Council is asking for comments and views from local electors and other interested parties on what the potential future arrangements should be.

For more information, visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/CGRStourport or visit Wyre Forest House, in Finepoint Way.

More information is also available at Stourport Town Council's office or Stourport Library in the Civic Centre.

Any changes to the governance of Stourport would have to be agreed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and would not come into effect until the next Stourport Town Council election in May 2019.

Comments can be emailed to cgrstourport@wyreforestdc.gov.uk and should be submitted by February 1. They can also be posted to Electoral Services,Wyre Forest District Council, Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, DY11 7WF.