The Town of Cottesloe is inviting residents, electors and ratepayers to have their say on the future composition of Council, with a statutory review now underway to determine whether the current number of elected members remains appropriate for the community.

The Town currently comprises a Mayor and eight Councillors. Through the review, the community is being asked to consider whether Council should retain its current structure of nine elected members or reduce representation to seven or five elected members.

Mayor Melissa Harkins said the review was part of a legislated process designed to ensure local government representation remains effective, efficient and reflective of community needs.

"Representation reviews provide an important opportunity to consider how local government can best serve its community, both now and into the future," Mayor Harkins said.

"No decisions have been made, and we are seeking genuine community feedback before Council considers whether any changes should be recommended."

The Town last undertook a representation review in 2018. Since then, local government reforms across Western Australia have prompted many councils to examine whether their existing representation models remain appropriate.

A Discussion Paper has been released outlining the options under consideration, together with information on councillor-to-elector ratios, comparisons with other local governments, and the potential advantages and disadvantages of each model.

Community submissions will help inform Council's assessment of the options against key statutory criteria, including community interests, demographic trends, economic factors and the ratio of councillors to electors.

The consultation period will remain open for six weeks, after which Council will consider community feedback and determine whether a preferred representation model should be submitted to the Local Government Advisory Board for consideration.

Residents, electors and ratepayers can view the Discussion Paper and provide feedback through the Town's Engagement platform.

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