Move to cut Wyre Forest council numbers defended
A move to cut the number of councillors in Wyre Forest by almost a quarter has been described as necessary by a senior councillor.
The district council is to reduce the number of its councillors from 42 to 33 following a six-month consultation by the Local Government Boundary Commission.
The reduction will come into place following the next election in 2015 and will save the council at least £36,000 a year in councillor allowances.
Today, councillor Fran Oborski, leader of the council Liberals, said she was not for the idea of cutting the number of councillors, but conceded members had to move with the times and accept the decision.
She said: "I don't like it, but I have to say that at a time when we are cutting services, when staff are losing their jobs, you have to think, shouldn't there be a bit of pain for councillors? It was a council decision to carry out the review, members of all parties voted for it and I believe the outcome is necessary."
Earlier this month, the council's finance bosses ruled the authority had to make £2million in savings over the next two years to reflect a fall in grants from central government. The council has already made cuts of £3.6million since 2010.
Public toilets, council-run car parks and some administration service are under threat as a result of the needed savings.
The boundary commission has now started a three-month consultation on the councillor ward boundaries.
It is aimed at resulting with each councillor representing roughly the same numberof voters.
People can submit their views by visiting consultation.lgbce.org.uk. People have until December 10 to comment.
