Councillors on East Cambridgeshire District Council are being asked whether they want to reduce the number of councillors from 39 down to 27.  A meeting of the Council this coming Tuesday will consider a report to this effect.

The Council doesn’t have the power to change its own numbers: that rests with the Local Government Boundary Commission. Having previously (in 2011) rejected proposals by the Council to reduce the number of councillors by six, the Commission has now agreed to consider this fresh request from the Council.  (The Commission could, of course, turn down the request again).

Alongside reducing the number of councillors, the Council leadership wants the Commission to review East Cambridgeshire’s ward boundaries.  In principle, it appears that the Council wants to move to single-councillor wards for rural areas. In Sutton’s case this could mean losing a district councillor – we currently have two – or possibly sharing two councillors across a much wider area.  If agreed, the review would take place in 2015 or 2016, after next year’s elections.

In these times, when so many people are – rightly or wrongly – so cynical about all who seek or hold elected office, a reduction in councillor numbers by nearly one-third might well be applauded, even if only as a promising start. But, done properly, the role of a local councillor is a busy one, including not only council  meetings, but representing the council at various bodies and functions, liaising with the parish council, attending local events, communicating with local organisations, holding surgeries for local residents, issuing regular newsletters telling people what’s going on. It’s a lot to do, especially if you’re of working age and have a day job to do as well.

Should we welcome a reduction in the number of our councillors?  Or should we be worried at the prospect of fewer councillors to hold council officials to account and fulfil a demanding role effectively?