Invigorating Cambourne Parish Democracy

The problem with Cambourne Parish Democracy is the vast majority don't care. At the last Parish By-election in 2012 the turnout was 7.26%. That is a very low number. With the high turnover of councillors all electors need to do is wait until a councillor resigns and put themselves forward for co-option. This is far easier than having to leaflet and knock on doors throughout Cambourne which a lot of work.

What could change to make it easier for elections to be held?

The answer is dividing the parish into wards. One ward each for Great, Lower and Upper Cambourne. With West Cambourne on the way it would be easier to add this as a new ward. Having 4 councillors a ward this would make a Council of 12 members rather than 13. Also when West is built this would add another 4 councillors for that ward.

This is my idea for new parish council wards.

By dividing the parish into 3 wards this means candidates would have far less area to cover with leaflets and canvassing. Otherwise, at the next election, 13 candidates would have to leaflet and canvass the whole of Cambourne.

Warding the Parish Council is not an answer but it is a cheap way of allowing candidates to do less work to be elected.