New Chair and Commissioners appointed to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Bev Smith has been appointed as Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission by HM The King for a five-year term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2031. 

Bev Smith joins the Commission from her role as Chair of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. She has an extensive career in local government, having previously been Chief Executive of North West Leicestershire District Council and Mansfield District Council. 

Also appointed as Commissioners for a period of five years are Janet Waggott and Dame Gillian Guy.  

Janet Waggott’s experience spans includes a 30-year career in local government, most recently as Chief Executive at both Selby District Council and Ryedale District Council. She is currently a member of the North York Moors National Park Authority. Janet Waggott’s term began in November 2025. 

Dame Gillian Guy joins the Commission in April 2026. Dame Gillian Guy is currently Independent Assessor of the Financial Ombudsman Service and a former Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, Victim Support and the London Borough of Ealing Council. 

Bev Smith said: 

“I am honoured to be joining the Commission at such an important time in local government. I believe local government boundaries are fundamental to supporting democratic health, providing a framework that supports local identity, equality of representation and the effective and efficient delivery of services to our communities.  

 “The Commission is trusted and impartial and I look forward to sharing its technical expertise with partners in local government and ensuring our communities continue to be able to engage with our work to shape their local boundaries.”  

“I would like to express my thanks to former Chair Professor Colin Mellors for his unstinting service to an important part of the local democratic system”.    

ENDS   

Notes to Editors:

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. We review the electoral and boundary arrangements of councils.  

We consult local people and organisations to help us produce proposals and then recommendations for change. 

Our main focus is a rolling programme of electoral reviews. We review councils to make sure their patterns of internal wards or electoral divisions are fair and sensible. 

For further information, please contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525/ 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk