COUNCILS are considering cutting the number of councillors to save money.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s leader Ann Ducker wants to get rid of 40 per cent of councillors and said many were no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the council.

Political parties on Oxfordshire County Council are also considering whether to axe a quarter of councillors.

Staff at South Oxfordshire, many of whom face job losses, first suggested getting rid of councillors as a way to save money amid budget cuts.

Mrs Ducker said reducing councillor numbers from 48 to 30 would save £50,000 a year in allowances.

She said: “I have always thought we have too many councillors.

“Residents are now much more wise about how to communicate with the council, and district councillors have got to put their hands up and ask how many times we are contacted by residents anymore.”

She said changes in the way councils were run meant many were left without a role, and it was “not necessary” for more than one to represent large wards.

Currently, each South Oxfordshire district councillor represents an average 2,670 people.

If Mrs Ducker’s proposals were backed by the Boundary Commission, they would each have 4,410 voters from 2015.

Big towns, like Didcot, would be left with fewer representatives, while smaller wards, including Chiltern Woods and Aston Rowant, may merge.

The leader of the opposition, Liberal Democrat David Turner, said big reductions in councillor numbers could leave councillors struggling to cover huge areas and reduce the chance of independent candidates being elected.

Mr Turner said: “I know it is a popular thing to cut councillors down but I think it has to be looked at very carefully, and off the cuff, a 40 per cent reduction is far too much.”

South Oxfordshire will vote on whether to ask the Boundary Commission to look into cutting back councillor numbers on Thursday.

At County Hall, parties have been asked whether to keep 74 councillors or cut the number back to 65 or 52.

Council leader Keith Mitch-ell said the council would make a recommendation to an ongoing Boundary Commission review by Monday, Nove-mber 22.

Oxford city, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell district councils have no plans to cut councillor numbers, while Vale of White Horse District Council leader Tony De Vere said it was not being considered “at the moment”.