Bradford Council's 30 wards could in future be split so that only one councillor is elected for each area under new Government proposals.

The measures are designed to give local councils the power to change the way their elections work - and make councillors more accountable to their electorate.

Junior local government minister Angela Smith said the measures will give councils "greater flexibility" in arranging their wards or divisions.

She said: "It gives councils the ability to initiate a move to single member electoral areas.

"It does so in a way which safeguards propriety and avoids any risk of perceived gerrymandering."

Miss Smith said authorities which have whole-council elections would be able to apply to the Electoral Commission to direct the Boundary Committee to review their proposed changes.

She said: "Single-member areas can deliver stronger accountability and they provide that strong link between a councillor and his or her electorate and gives clarity of leadership to a locality."

The measures were introduced as the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill reached its report stage in the Commons.

She said the Electoral Commission would decide if it was "appropriate" for a local authority to move to single member wards, and the Boundary Committee would recommend the appropriate number of wards for the district.

At the moment Bradford Council is divided into 30 wards and three councillors are selected for each ward - giving a total of 90.

A third of the Council seats are usually contested at election time, but local government minister Phil Woolas proposed changes allowing such Councils to move to whole council elections.

The amendments would allow councils to change their electoral systems "if they believe it is in the interests of their area", Mr Woolas said.

Other proposals included in the Bill include requiring councils to change to one of three strong leadership models:

  • a directly-elected Mayor with a four year term; a directly-elected Executive with a four year term; a council leader with a four-year term chosen by councillors.

All three models share a four-year term with all the executive powers held by one individual.

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