Members of Cornwall County Council have agreed that a Boundary Review should take place before elections to the new Unitary Council are held to ensure that members of the public in the county receive the best possible level of democratic representation.

The County council agreed in June to seek discussions with the Government and the Boundary Commission about carrying out a Boundary Review to increase the number of councillors to between 100 and 164 in the new Council. This followed concerns that the current representation of 82 councillors could find it difficult to adequately represent local people in the new authority.

Council leader David Whalley said that the Boundary Commission was also of the view that a review of electoral boundaries should be held before elections to any new Council. Adding that the Commission had confirmed that such a Review could be carried out in time for elections to take place in May 2009 at the very latest, he said the Council would be calling for elections to be held as soon as possible after it was completed.

"A Boundary Review will provide a clear democratic mandate for the new Council and the opportunity to create electoral divisions which are more representative of local communities in Cornwall" he said.

"Increasing the number of Councillors will provide stability for the new Council and ensure that the people of Cornwall receive the level of representation they need and deserve".