Cut number of councillors

With the announcement of impending council tax rises of almost 4%, and quoting the reasons for the implementation of these rises as budget cuts, which equates to Â£136million for year 2015/2016 down to Â£131million for year 2016/2017.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Feb 2016, 08:02 BST

Updated 4th Feb 2016, 08:04 BST

Coun Ed Malcolm says “As a council we now have 30% less to spend on helping the people of South Tyneside to realise their ambitions”. He further adds that council bosses may have to shed 600 posts over the next few years due to a noticeable difference in services.

Whilst we understand, and abhor, the severity and ruthlessness of these cuts by the Tory Government, surely, it is now time to address the number of councillors again, while we are talking about shedding 600 posts.

We are told repeatedly that we all have to bear the brunt of these cuts and tighten our belts, surely, this should apply to the unnecessary amount of three councillors to a ward, which has been addressed many times in the past and immediately rebuffed by the council.

The savings doing this would not be huge but it is a saving in these austere times.

Jack Wiffin

South Tyneside