City of York Council will decide its formal response to proposed ward boundary changes next week, setting out where it agrees and disagrees with an independent review that could reshape local representation. Full Council meets on 16 July 2026 at The Guildhall to vote on a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which published draft recommendations in April.
The Commission wants to increase the council from 47 to 48 councillors and from 21 to 22 wards, with the boundaries of most wards changing. Under the proposed new structure, York would have ten three‑councillor wards, six two‑councillor wards and six single‑councillor wards. The update aims to reflect a forecast rise in the city’s electorate from 156,099 in 2025 to 170,031 by 2031.
A cross‑party task group, chaired by Councillor D. Merrett, has drafted the council’s response after meeting twice. It backs several departures from the Commission’s blueprint, including keeping Dunnington and Wheldrake as standalone wards rather than merging them into a larger Derwent ward. The group also wants Tang Hall and the whole of Derwenthorpe to form a separate two‑member ward, and calls for a defined southwestern part of Murton Parish to be included within Osbaldwick Ward.
The task group’s recommendations, endorsed by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on 6 July, will now go before Full Council. If approved, the submission will be sent to the Boundary Commission, which will make a final determination. An Order would then be laid before Parliament, with the new wards and council size due to take effect at the whole council elections in 2027.
Adding one extra councillor would increase annual allowance costs by about £11,757 at the current basic rate. The task group also noted it would have preferred an odd number of councillors but did not press for a change at this stage. Residents can register to speak at the 6.30 pm meeting by 5.00 pm on 14 July via the council’s website.
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