Review aims to cut back councillors

Selby District Council confirmed yesterday that the Boundary Commission will carry out the assessment from October as the local authority attempts to slash its spending. The council is faced with having to cut £3m in spending across all its services during a four-year period from its annual £11m revenue budget.

It has 41 members, and the review is expected to take up to a year to complete before detailed proposals are drawn up.

Council leader Mark Crane said: “This isn’t about reducing public representation, this is about being smarter in the way in which we represent our residents.”

Other local authorities taking similar measures include Hambleton District Council, which is looking to cut the number of members from 44 to 28. The council backed the plans last month and is now waiting on a final judgement from the Boundary Commission.