THE number of councillors representing Cherwell district should be reduced by two, the council’s executive agreed on Monday.

There are currently 50 councillors for wards across Bicester, Banbury, Kidlington and surrounding villages.

But under an electoral review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the number could be reduced to 48.

The council also want to retain its current election method where a third of councillors are up for election every year for three years out of four.

Cherwell’s leader Barry Wood said: “This review is taking place to ensure each councillor is representing a similar number of voters and there are not extreme differences.

“It is important to ensure wards are adequately represented and the workload placed upon councillors is manageable.”

The council will send its ruling to the commission, which will make a final decision.