Community Governance Review - Draft Recommendation 2(i) - Corby, Councillor Numbers

Overview

Summary of Proposal

Linked to their proposal for additional parish wards, the Town Council also submitted a recommendation that the number of councillors should be increased from 17 to 24 councillors (an increase of 7 councillors).

The submission did not indicate how the proposed number of councillors should be allocated across the warding pattern but did indicate that the revised number of Members was based on NALC recommendations.

View the full submission (CGR 10, page 1) by Corby Town Council. 

Observations

The NALC recommended figures (from guidance published in 1988) suggest the following levels of representation.

Electors

Councillors

Electors

Councillors

Up to 900

7

10,400

17

1,400

8

11,900

18

2,000

9

13,500

19

2,700

10

15,200

20

3,500

11

17,000

21

4,400

12

18,900

22

5,400

13

20,900

23

6,500

14

23,000

24

7,700

15

over 23,000

25

9,000

16

 

 

The current overall ratio of electors to councillors across the whole Corby Town Council area is 2547 electors per councillor. The current breakdown for each town council ward is shown below:

  • Corby West (5 councillors) 2108 electors per councillor
  • Kingswood (4 councillors) 2750 electors per councillor
  • Lloyds (3 councillors) 2875 electors per councillor
  • Oakley (5 councillors) 2626 electors per councillor

The table below shows a suggested level of representation for the estimated number of electors per councillor for each of the wards proposed by the town council. The suggested figure is either 21 or 22 councillors subject to levels of representation for the 2nd Oakley ward and a new ward for West Corby SUE.

Proposed Ward

Estimated electors

Cllrs

Estimated electors per cllr

Ward 1 (Lloyds)

4024

2

2012

Ward 2 (Oakley_1)

4975

2

2488

Ward 3 (Oakley 2)

8153

4 (3)

2038 (2717)

Ward 4 (West Corby SUE)

12 (+87+7425 forecast over 15 yrs)

1* (3)

2508

(0-5 years)

Ward 5 (Corby West_1)

5003

2

2500

Ward 6 (Corby West_2)

4035

2

2017

Ward 7 (Corby West_3)

4212

2

2106

Ward 8 (Kingswood_1)

5718

3

1906

Ward 9 (Kingswood_2)

6872

3

2290

Total Councillors

 

21 (22)

 

* Suggested representation based on phased development.

Draft Recommendation (Recommendation 2i) - Corby - Councillor Numbers

i) That the number of councillors for Corby Town Council be increased from 17 to 21 (an increase of 4 councillors) spread across a revised warding pattern comprising 9 wards.

(Please note that a new ward for Corby West SUE was not recommended by Democracy and Standards Committee on 20 July 2027)

Reason(s) for recommendation - The revised representation is informed by the creation of additional wards to support effective and convenient local governance by enabling more focused representation that better reflects recognised community identities and interests. The electorate figure also reflects changes in the way electors engage with their councillors, including a greater reliance on digital communication channels and an increased emphasis on online engagement.

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Closes 4 Oct 2026

Opened 24 Jul 2026

Interests

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  • Councillors and democracy