By John Baron
Leeds city councillors have voted to approve the creation of one new electoral ward for Horsforth Town Council.
At a full Leeds City Council meeting at Leeds Civic Hall yesterday, city councillors were originally set to agree the creation of two new wards within town council’s existing boundary.
But an amendment proposed by Councillor John Garvani (Lab, Horsforth) saw city councillors agree the creation of a new Broadgate and Drury Lane Ward as part of a community governance review of Horsforth Town Council.
Cllr Garvani, who is also a town councillor, argued the town council opposed the creation of a new Horsforth Vale ward as it would only feature one town councillor, raising questions over councillor availability and that it could place undue pressure and responsibility on one individual.
“When this was discussed the town council did not support this element of the review,” Cllr Garvani told full council.
Horsforth Town Council originally proposed the addition of one ward when they initially submitted their review in 2024. However when Leeds City Council’s Corporate Governance Committee examined the review last year, they felt there should be two wards.
Cllr Garvani said the governance committee’s proposal “seems to have arisen from some confusion.” His amendment was also supported by fellow Horsforth city councillors Ray Jones and Emmie Bromley.
Leeds City Council approved the amendment, meaning the new ward will come into effect at next May’s town council elections. The number of town councillors, who are unpaid volunteers, will remain the same at 22. The number of wards will increase from five to six.
The Town Council’s new warding arrangement will be:
The report to full council can be read in full here.
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