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Bedfordshire Association of Town & Parish Councils (BATPC) has warned that proposals for drastic cuts in number of volunteer local councillors risk weakening local democracy and reducing vital community representation.
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The proposals would see residents served by almost 100 fewer local representatives, despite the review of local governance being triggered due to Central Bedfordshire’s fast-growing population.
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The proposals to cut volunteer local councillors would achieve no financial saving
BATPC—representing every town and parish council across Central Bedfordshire—has submitted a strong and detailed response to the Stage 2 consultation of the Community Governance Review. The association says many councils are concerned that their views were overlooked during the first stage of the process, and that the proposed reductions in councillor numbers would have harmful effects for councils and for local democracy.
The proposed changes would cut the number of councillors at 35 of Central Bedfordshire’s 71 town and parish councils, leading to a dramatic reduction in the capacity of local councils to do what is necessary in their communities.
Local communities in Central Bedfordshire were previously represented by district and county councillors along with their town and parish members, until the abolition of Bedfordshire County Council in 2009. They are now set to lose further representation, with a massive 105 council seats to be slashed overall if the changes go ahead, and just 6 added.
BATPC warns that these reductions would not save a penny of taxpayers’ money since Bedfordshire town and parish councillors receive no remuneration whatsoever. However, the impact of the reductions would be to leave councils more thinly stretched, less resilient, and less able to provide local services communities rely on such as cemeteries, allotments, management of open spaces and much more.
This impact would be felt most acutely at small parish councils (where the only employee is the Clerk) which cannot afford to lose the volunteer efforts of local councillors and their work to protect and improve their communities week in, week out.
Commenting, BATPC County Committee Chairman Cllr Madeline Russell said:
“Local councils know their communities best. Reducing councillor numbers against the wishes of local councils risks weakening representation, narrowing the range of views in local decision-making and diminishing councils’ capacity to deliver valued services.
“We strongly urge CBC to pay heed to town and parish councils themselves on this and other issues under review.”