Bucks could lose councillors as part of electoral reforms

Apr 26 2011 By Camilla Goodman

Bucks County Council

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE could have eight less councillors after proposals to redraw electoral division boundaries in a bid to save money were agreed by Bucks County Council (BCC).

Work on the boundary review, outlined to the full council on Thursday (Apr 21), has been going on since November when councillors agreed to create 49 single member divisions ready for the 2013 election. Currently 57 councillors represent 47 divisions, of which 10 have two members.

The plans will see the Chilterns lose two of its 11 councillors and South Bucks will have its eight members reduced to seven.

BCC deputy leader Bill Chapple said boundary review was triggered by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at a time when the county council was listening to feedback from residents about reducing administration costs through the Bucks Debate, a consultation programme held last autumn.

He said: "We're in a time of austerity, when we're making savings across all services, and we, as members, recognised the need to support this process. Nationally, we're already recognised as a top authority and our decision today will make us even more efficient and effective."

Currently each of the county council's 57 members represents an average of 6,800 residents. The proposed new arrangement would maintain an average electorate of 8,113 per member through to 2017 and save taxpayers about £100,000 a year.

The proposal will now be submitted to the Boundary Commission, which will consider them during the next three months.