Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his oral contribution of 24 March 2021 on Liverpool City Council, Official report, column 937, what impact assessment his Department is undertaking on the proposal for electing a reduced number of councillors in single member wards.

Subject to the representations we have requested by 24 May 2021, the Secretary of State proposes to direct Liverpool City Council to consider and consult upon a new submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as part of its current electoral review. Under the proposed Directions, that submission must include a proposal to reduce the number of councillors to those consistent with elections on a single member ward basis and will need to be approved by the proposed Commissioners. Any impact assessment on the proposal would be prepared by the Council.