Bid to cut councillors (From Gazette & Herald)

Bid to cut Ryedale District councillors

12:11pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in News By David Jeffels

MOVES are to be made tomorrow night (Thursday) to reduce the number of members of Ryedale District Council by up to a third.

Coun Keith Knaggs, council leader and leader of the ruling Conservative group, is to propose to the council that the Local Government Boundary Commission is asked to reveiew the current electoral arrangements for Ryedale, with the aim of cutting the membership from the current 30.

He said that between 1974, when the council came into being after the shake-up of local government, and 2003, the authority had just 23 members. Since then its membership has increased to 30.

Coun Knaggs believes the number should be cut to between 20 and 24 members to save council taxpayers’ money and increase efficiency. He wants to see a widespread public consultation carried out before any decision is made on a possible cut.

“Reducing the number of councillors was part of our election manifesto last year,” he said.

Ryedale is believed to be the biggest authority geographically in the country but its population of under 50,000 is thought to be second lowest.

Coun Knaggs said if the reduction in councillors is agreed by the Boundary Commission, it would not affect the council’s next election in 2015, when the existing 30 seats will be up for grabs. Any change would be made prior to the 2019 council elections.