Reflecting the ongoing national debate on public spending cuts, a senior member of Bournemouth Council has proposed cutting the number of local councillors, arguing that large amounts of money could be saved. "You can’t ask the members of the public to reduce expenditure and costs and everything else and still retain the large number of councillors per ward," Cllr Ron Whittaker said.
Cllr Margaret Eaton, the Chairman of the Local Government Association, said that she expects local council jobs will continue to be cut over the next year as a result of the recession, but stressed that local government was the most efficient part of the public sector.
A former councillor from Burton has slipped further into disrepute, after pleading guilty to charges of possessing an imitation handgun and martial arts weapons, with the intention to cause fear of violent crime. The ex-councillor resigned his position when being held on remand in prison in 2005, after being charged with causing actual bodily harm to his neighbour, an 83-year-old lady.
Six local councils recently joined the growing number of organisations which have signed up to the 10:10 climate change campaign, encouraging people to cut their carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010. There are now 16 councils involved in the campaign, which aims to put pressure on the government to take greater action over climate change.
Exeter City Council is to re-launch its ‘Extralet’ scheme, whereby the council rents available property from private sector landlords for those on its housing waiting list. The scheme is said to have been popular and effective, and has been used as a model for other local authorities.