Tories plan to cut councillors (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tories plan to cut councillors

5:30pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Laura Shack

COUNCILLORS are to get the chop in a Tory bid to make savings at Cotswold District Council .

CDC’s leader Cllr Lynden Stowe told the Standard that plans were in motion to cut 12 councillors – or 25 per cent of the council – by the 2015 elections.

He said that an application would be made to the Boundary Commission of England in the next 12 months for a review on ward boundaries and he expected the number of wards to drop.

But he added a public consultation would be carried out before any changes were made.

Cllr Stowe said it was "eminently sensible" to have just one council representative for each ward and he anticipated the full council would reduce from 44 to 32 members.

"It will save money in allowances and other administration costs and make members more accountable.

"Let’s say we get a planning application in Watermoor. All officers have to deal with two ward members on the planning application. Why not make that one ward member?

"It’s eminently sensible."