NEW plans could see the number of Redditch Borough councillors fall from 29 to 27.
The possibility results from a review sparked by the Local Government Boundary Commission which seeks to balance the number of councillors with the number of voters.
Currently the borough has an average of one councillor for every 2,199 voters, but reducing the number to 27 would bring the authority more into line with other councils in Worcestershire.
With 27 councillors the representation would be one for every 2,362 voters, and bring a small cost saving to the authority from allowances.
The plan would be to re-organise the authority into nine wards of three councillors instead of 12 wards with a mixture of two and three councillors.
Council Leader Matt Dormer said further down the line the borough could possibly increase its representation at county level by one with one county councillor for each of the nine wards, up from the present number of eight.
The authority has also agreed to stick to the custom of have elections in thirds – that is a third of the authority up for election every year with one lay year over a four year term.
“I’m a fan of elections in thirds – it keeps us on our toes and in tune with the electorate,” said Coun Dormer.
“I feel that every four years, people begin to drop the ball.
“We could have also gone to 30 councillors, but that raises the prospect of 15 each, and how do you work that one out?
“By making it 27 it’s much more clear cut.”
