Number of Wycombe councillors could be cut (From Bucks Free Press)

How about cutting the Tories who don't turn up?

Like Malliff and the one from Sands who no one knows who she is when she does turn up!

I think that almost half the number of Cllrs from WDC can be cut.

When I was a Cllr I wasn’t quite sure why a ward would need 2 or in some cases x3 members when 1 or 2 would do.

It does seem that the main political parties use Cllrs in their favour and use them to knock on doors and deliver leaflets, etc (i.e. political foot soldiers) come election times.

I hope that the numbers do come down by at least a 3rd if not half.

By all means reduce the number of councilors, but a better way of reducing costs would be to go back to the system operating over 50 years ago. DONT GIVE THE COUNCILLORS any financial benefits. If they are putting something back to their community let it be their time. So many of them take the money, turn it into a full time job, and pay officials to do the dirty work. Any glory goes to the Councillors, especially the odd gong or two. .,

Rather than reviewing how many councillors are needed we should look at how many councils are needed?

Merge the town councils into the district councils. Then merge the district councils into the county councils. Then merge the county councils into a single body called central government. That would offer massive savings rather than just trimming a few councillors.

Darren Hayday wrote:
I think that almost half the number of Cllrs from WDC can be cut.

When I was a Cllr I wasn’t quite sure why a ward would need 2 or in some cases x3 members when 1 or 2 would do.

It does seem that the main political parties use Cllrs in their favour and use them to knock on doors and deliver leaflets, etc (i.e. political foot soldiers) come election times.

I hope that the numbers do come down by at least a 3rd if not half.

LOL. Always amused how you try and distance yourself from your Conservative past. You full well know that there's nothing mysterious in how the number of members per ward is calculated. It's done simply on an average number of constituents to members ratio. Simples!!!

Wycombe Elector wrote:

Darren Hayday wrote: I think that almost half the number of Cllrs from WDC can be cut. When I was a Cllr I wasn’t quite sure why a ward would need 2 or in some cases x3 members when 1 or 2 would do. It does seem that the main political parties use Cllrs in their favour and use them to knock on doors and deliver leaflets, etc (i.e. political foot soldiers) come election times. I hope that the numbers do come down by at least a 3rd if not half.

LOL. Always amused how you try and distance yourself from your Conservative past. You full well know that there's nothing mysterious in how the number of members per ward is calculated. It's done simply on an average number of constituents to members ratio. Simples!!!

I am glad someone else sees this Elector. 20:20 hindsight is a wonderful thing isnt it Mr Hayday?

I wish these councillors would not come on here and pretend to be someone else, they make it so obvious, and im not talking about D H.

Wycombe Elector wrote:

Darren Hayday wrote:
I think that almost half the number of Cllrs from WDC can be cut.

When I was a Cllr I wasn’t quite sure why a ward would need 2 or in some cases x3 members when 1 or 2 would do.

It does seem that the main political parties use Cllrs in their favour and use them to knock on doors and deliver leaflets, etc (i.e. political foot soldiers) come election times.

I hope that the numbers do come down by at least a 3rd if not half.

LOL. Always amused how you try and distance yourself from your Conservative past. You full well know that there's nothing mysterious in how the number of members per ward is calculated. It's done simply on an average number of constituents to members ratio. Simples!!!

If this indeed is true. Please check.

I've not mentioned the Conservatives - so I'm not quite sure that point is correct.

Also this is my own opinion, I don’t see 'why' a ward would need 2 or 3 Cllrs looking after it when 1 or 2 would do the same job.

There are a number of Cllrs (current) that do not pull their weight and some who write negative comments on this site and think that we don’t know who they are...

susie1000 wrote:
By all means reduce the number of councilors, but a better way of reducing costs would be to go back to the system operating over 50 years ago. DONT GIVE THE COUNCILLORS any financial benefits. If they are putting something back to their community let it be their time. So many of them take the money, turn it into a full time job, and pay officials to do the dirty work. Any glory goes to the Councillors, especially the odd gong or two. .,

You obviously don't understand the financial 'rewards' of being a councillor. If you're prepared to be at your constituents beck and call 24/7 for an allowance of approximately £4,700 before tax, exact figure on WDC website, attend all council meetings plus those of any committee you're selected for - all outside a normal working day, then I suggest you stand for Council. It's up to us as an electorate to ensure we get value for money from our councillors and if they don't do their job vote them off. I am NOT a councillor.

yog wrote:
How about cutting the Tories who don't turn up?

Like Malliff and the one from Sands who no one knows who she is when she does turn up!

I don't know who she is when she DOES turn up !
.
She may believe in the maxim ' Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' In her case , it might not apply ; in fact just the opposite.
.
It is only when you manage to get to hear political people and to listen to what they say , can you really truly learn to despise them wholeheartedly for what they are.
.

Cllr Ron Gaffney, commission chairman, said: “We feel we ought to look at it, no more than that.

“I'm not suggesting we go from 60 to 20 or 60 to 55, I'm not even going to suggest figures.”
.
Well in that case , why bother speaking at all , Mr Chairman. It would appear you have nothing at all to say
.
Aren't our politicians wonderful ? How do they do it ?

We need councillors in some areas and less in others.
Rural, Marlow and PR councillors have parish councillors and clerks to share the load.
In the unparished town wards we have no town councillors or parish clerks to help.

In addition some town wards have extra issues and work due to the nature of the urban issues we face

Therefore lets get rid of rural councillors and increase town councillors!

I think that the way forward would be to have a Unitary Council - get rid of District Council's and Bucks County Council but make sure that we keep Parish and Town Councils.

That way we would have full time Cllrs working on the majority of issues and then the Parish and Town Cllrs working on the more local and remaining issues.
Otherwise I would say (especially if you were to look at the average age of sitting Cllrs) that there are a number that take this role to top up their pension…
.

townraider wrote:
We need councillors in some areas and less in others.
Rural, Marlow and PR councillors have parish councillors and clerks to share the load.
In the unparished town wards we have no town councillors or parish clerks to help.

In addition some town wards have extra issues and work due to the nature of the urban issues we face

Therefore lets get rid of rural councillors and increase town councillors!

Spoken like a true Independent.

susie1000 wrote:
By all means reduce the number of councilors, but a better way of reducing costs would be to go back to the system operating over 50 years ago. DONT GIVE THE COUNCILLORS any financial benefits. If they are putting something back to their community let it be their time. So many of them take the money, turn it into a full time job, and pay officials to do the dirty work. Any glory goes to the Councillors, especially the odd gong or two. .,

What you are proposing will mean that we only have councillors who are rich because others would not be able to afford to do it for free or would be unwilling.

I think we should have a Wycombe Town Council and merge the District and County councils to form a Unitary Authority. We could have one councillor per ward representing people for each ward. We could also remove the duplication of senior officers in each current council.

Re: Payments to Councillors.

I had many friends(not rich) who gave valuable time to council work. Unpaid, but happy to put back into society their personal skills for the benefit of their fellow citizens.
We have paid employers to look after the interest of the ratepayers. Councillors should not be "at the beck and call of the electorate. ". If they are that has been their choice. A good councillor will take on board complaints from the electorate, and resolve problems. The role of a councillor is to ensure that the current and future citizens have a location that they are proud to call their home. Unfortunately the modern councillor seems to set back, take the money,and hopes that the party machine gets them re-elected. No wonder very few people bother to vote.. I would like to see less councils and councillors, but not if it means more cash for the councillors. (the poor souls will plead that it is harder to get councillors now that they have to work harder). .

They could save money by not providing tea, coffee, biscuits etc whenever they meet up, how about they bring their own flask of drink and a lunchbox, and at their own expense, not claiming back on expenses.

gpn01 wrote:
Rather than reviewing how many councillors are needed we should look at how many councils are needed?

Merge the town councils into the district councils. Then merge the district councils into the county councils. Then merge the county councils into a single body called central government. That would offer massive savings rather than just trimming a few councillors.

Wycombe is proof that this policy doesn't work - no town council, so nobody to fight our corner.

Where has our town's A&E gone?

Which elected officials are trying to reverse this stupid government/NHS plan - please stand up and be counted...

We want our hospital back!

New to this so go easy on me ;-)

I think it's a great idea, but also add in a literacy test to really clear up some of the extra weight in councillors we carry! I have spoken with a few over the last few years and I am totally amazed how these people were elected!

Sad to say, but its pretty obvious these people were asked to stand in certain wards purely on the basis of who they know in the area and the likelihood of the party winning an extra seat in the council.

Only a select few are really doing this to help the community. Most are interested in the title of being called "councillor" and do not actually understand what their role entails!

Can I just say..... wrote:

gpn01 wrote:
Rather than reviewing how many councillors are needed we should look at how many councils are needed?

Merge the town councils into the district councils. Then merge the district councils into the county councils. Then merge the county councils into a single body called central government. That would offer massive savings rather than just trimming a few councillors.

Wycombe is proof that this policy doesn't work - no town council, so nobody to fight our corner.

Where has our town's A&E gone?

Which elected officials are trying to reverse this stupid government/NHS plan - please stand up and be counted...

We want our hospital back!

Don't understand your logic. Aren't strategic NHS decisions made by the NHS rather than a local council?