Black Monday looms for councillors

Plans to slim the number of Oldham councillors by a third could be passed on Monday.

A report outlining cuts to the number of councillors and elections will be considered at a special cabinet meeting.

Oldham Council currently has 60 councillors, three per ward, who serve a four-year term.

The proposal is to cut them to 40 — two per ward.

They would still serve four years terms with elections once every two years, with half of the Council up for election each time, saving around £75,000.

Councillor Howard Sykes, Oldham Council leader, said: “Citizens were crystal clear in telling us that in order to protect frontline services no aspect of council business should be exempt from possible savings.

“That includes looking at the amount of public money spent on councillors, and we have heard that message.

”These proposals would result in a considerable reduction in members’ basic allowances and special responsibilities allowances worth about £280,000 annually.”

If approved by Cabinet, the proposals will then need to go before a meeting of full Council on April 20.