An all-out election will be called at Wigan council in 2022 as part of a review of the borough’s electoral boundaries.
The number of councillors, as well as the name, number and size of wards, could all be changed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).
Members of the public will be invited to have their say on any changes once initial proposals are unveiled next year.
But the borough’s outer boundaries will remain the same according to Wigan council’s leader , Councillor David Molyneux.
“The outer boundaries of the borough are not up for negotiation,” he told councillors on Wednesday.
“We also know the review will result in all-out elections, so if elected next year it will only be for a two year term because everybody in the council chamber will be up for election in 2022.
“There is a programme to take all members through the process and there will be further updates on this as the year progresses.”
The LGBCE has committed to considering changes to districts across Greater Manchester which have not been reviewed in recent years.
Wigan borough’s last electoral review in 2004 saw the introduction of three new councillors, bringing the total number to 75, as well as a new ward and realigned ward boundaries to reflect population changes.
Fresh proposals for the borough will be released next year ahead of a 10-week public consultation which will take place next summer.
In the meantime, the commission will gather information – such as electorate forecasts and geographical boundaries – that will inform the draft plans.
A second consultation period will take place in 2021.
Final recommendations will be published in mid-2021 ahead of implementation on election day in 2022 where all seats will be contested.
A third of the council chamber is elected each year over a three year period with no elections in the fourth year of the cycle.
This means no elections are scheduled to take place in 2021.
