CONSERVATIVE cost-saving measures which would have benefited residents across the constituency have been voted down by Labour at a meeting of Chorley council

The ruling Labour Group, under proposals from the Boundary Commission to review Chorley’s boundaries, proposed to submit to the Commission that the Council  reduce the number of councillors from 47 to 42 with elections to be held in thirds.

FEWER COUNCILLORS AND ELECTIONS EVERY FOUR YEARS

The Conservative Group proposed an amendment to reduce the number further to 39 and to hold elections every four years. The plans would mean each councillor having only around 140 more electors to look after than in the Labour proposal.

BIG SAVINGS FOR LOCAL TAXPAYERS

Group leader, Alan Cullens said the Conservative’s plans would result in a saving of around £950,000 over 10 years, while Labour’s plan would save just £22,000 yearly. 

He said: “It’s a shame that our amendment was voted down by Labour.

“The Conservatives are in agreement with them on reducing the number of councilors. If the number is reduced to 42 it will also save the council around £20,000 per year.

“But we think we should go further, reducing the number to 39, which we admit would result in a slightly increased workload as each councillor would have more electors to look after, but would also save the council even more money. Our fully costed plans would save thousands, resulting in more money in the pockets of hard-working residents across Chorley

Chorley Council is under electoral review following instructions from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE ) and last week the council approved plans to be submitted to the LGBCE regarding its size and electoral cycle.

The last electoral review for Chorley Council was held in 2000 and since then elector numbers have changed within the authority area causing the ratio of elector numbers per councillor to be imbalanced.

Electoral reviews are commonplace across all local authorities and since Chorley has seen a lot of development in the past 18 years, causing a change in elector numbers in the area, the ratio of elector numbers per councillor needs balancing.

The public consultation on the Local Government Boundary review for Chorley starts in June this year.