THE LEADER of South Gloucestershire Council and a prospective MP for the Thornbury and Yate constituency have supported a reduction in the number of councillors in South Gloucestershire.

Conservative council Leader Matthew Riddle and Luke Hall have committed to cutting the cost of local politics in the region.

They have made the commitment following Gloucestershire County Council’s decision to reduce the number of councillors from 63 to 53, in an effort to save money.

South Gloucestershire Council currently have 70 councillors, including nine councillors covering the Yate, Dodington and Chipping Sodbury area, and four Councillors covering Thornbury, each receiving a basic allowance of £11,000.

Cllr Matthew Riddle also supported a freeze in Councillor allowances, rather than letting them automatically increase year on year.

He said: “We have just frozen Council Tax for the fifth year in a row, and I want to ensure that we keep costs low so we are able to direct taxpayer’s money into the local frontline services that matter.”

Prospective MP Luke Hall said: “It is right that we reduce the number of Councillors in South Gloucestershire, it does not make sense that taxpayers are paying basic allowances of £770,000 a year to Councillors whilst the Lib Dems are voting for the green bin tax, costing local families £36 a year.”