We are committed to reducing the number of
councillors. Prior to the council elections in May this year, Cllr
Peter Bryant was tasked with looking at whether the council still
needed as many as 61 ward members.
The results of this investigation have been fed into our Medium
Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which recognises that for budgetary
reasons, a reduction in councillors is essential.
Due to the recent election this year, and the resulting four
year term, a reduction in councillors is not possible before
2015.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Ashton said: "The council faces an
unprecedented financial challenge between 2011-2015 and the MTFP
outlines how we could plug a projected £47.3m financial gap."
This financial gap is the result of a range of issues including
substantial cuts in Government funding, a growing elderly
population, inflationary increases and the fact that we continue to
be a low-funded authority while maintaining the second lowest
council tax in the South West.
"Clearly the work doesn't stop after 2015 and we must come up
with even more suggestions to make significant savings. We have
asked our officers to look at every possible avenue, have given
staff a pay freeze and it is only right that councillors now get
their own house in order. Savings must be made," added Cllr
Ashton.
"We asked the Boundary Commission two years ago when they would
be able to look at a review of ward boundaries and when they would
be in a position to examine any proposals and the effects of any
reduction in the number of councillors. The earliest they could
come was 2012 and we have a working party looking at all the
ramifications of reducing the number of councillors. We will be
putting proposals to Council well ahead of the commission's
visit."
The Local Government Boundary Commission is likely to start its
review in the second part of 2012. It is expected to take between
12 and 14 months to complete.
