PENSIONERS leader Brian Todd has said the number of Blackburn with Darwen councillors should be slashed by a third to save front-line services.

He tackled borough finance chief Andy Kay at his annual meeting with business, community and voluntary group leaders before the council sets its budget next month.

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Blackburn with Darwen Older People’s Forum chairman Mr Todd said: “Why don’t you cut the number of councillors by a third.

“That would save front-line services.”

He said it would reduce the £500,000-plus a year bill for the 64 councillors expenses and allowance.

Cllr Kay said the ruling Labour group would look again at the issue.

The suggestion has got a mixed reception from local politicians.

Cllr Kay said: “When we took power back in 2010, we looked at this.

“It is complex, would take at least four years and would require the involvement of the Boundary Commission and the Local Government Secretary.

“We decided not to go ahead as individual councillors workloads are increasing.

“We will look again but I suspect we will come to the same conclusion.

“We cut councillors allowances by 10 per cent in 2010.”

Mr Todd said: “I still think it is worth looking at again when the council is talking about cutting front-line services.”

Borough Liberal Democrat leader David Foster said: “I think it would be a good idea.”

His Tory counterpart Mike Lee said: “I would rather see the creation of a Pennine Lancashire authority which could cut the total number of councillors over six authorities by two-thirds.”

Blackburn Labour MP Jack Straw said: “The number of voters per councillors varies in different authorities. Rather than do this ad hoc in Blackburn, I would like a total review of local government in East Lancashire and a single unitary authority for the area.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry backed the idea saying: “It takes 55 state governors to run local government across the whole USA so its bizarre it needs 64 councillors to run a small borough council.

“If they cut the number of councillors they might save some of the services they claim the government is making them get rid of.”

Blackburn Tory candidate Bob Eastwood said: “The council has significant savings to find. The first place to look is in their own backyard. A significant amount of money could be found by reducing councillor numbers,”

Rossendale and Darwen Labour candidate Will Straw said: “There is a price for democracy. It is a difficult balance to strike.”