Fewer Councillors to Save Cash

10 October 2011, 09:34 | Updated: 10 October 2011, 09:55

Plans to reduce the number of councillors at two of our local authorities will take a step closer as a consultation on the plans ends today.

Residents were being asked what they thought about the recommendation to cut the number of councillors in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has suggested Oxfordshire should only have 63 county councillors instead of the current 74. This change would also see an alteration of ward divisions.

Buckinghamshire County Council currently has 57 councillors. The authority has proposed to reduce this to 49. It's estimated the change will save them a £100,000 a year.

At the moment each of Buckinghamshire County Council's members represents an average of 6,800 residents. The proposed new arrangement of 49 would keep an average electorate of 8,113 per member through to 2017.

The publication of the Boundary Commission's final report back in July this year followed a public consultation on their draft plans.

See how the changes relate to your area in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Have your say here.