Express & Star

Tory plan to cut Wolverhampton councillors in a bid to save cash

Radical plans have been unveiled by opposition councillors as they bid to take control of Wolverhampton Council.

Published
Wendy Thompson

Plans unveiled by the city's Conservative Group could see the number of councillors cut and time-limited free parking introduced, if they take control of the Labour-run authority in May.

The cutback would see the number of councillors reduced by one per ward, leaving 40 in the city – saving the council at least £190,000 every year.

Other plans from the Conservatives include moving to all-out elections every four years, instead of three out of four years, saving £200,000.

Time-limited free parking on weekends at council-owned car parks in the city centre would be introduced, in a bid to support Wolverhampton businesses.

Wolverhampton Council's £2 million communications budget would be reduced, with money going to "essential services" instead.

Council staff employed as full-time union representatives would also face the chop, making a saving of £142,000 per year.

Leader of the opposition group, Councillor Wendy Thompson, introduced the measures after the Labour-run authority introduced a five per cent increase in council tax in April.

Councillor Thompson said: "The Labour Party have been in control of this city for most of the last 40 years. And what have we got to show for it?

"More tax, more debt, more chance of being unemployed, more chance of living in poor health.

"The people of Wolverhampton are crying out for change, they are fed up – and it’s the Conservative Group which is offering them a clear alternative.”

The group also welcomed the Government's announcement on plans to return weekly bin collections after Wolverhampton Council reduced collections to fortnightly in October last year.

The council's budget for communications also came under fire from Councillor Thompson, with the leader adding: "It simply cannot make sense to be spending £2m on PR and spin, when essential services such as social care are desperate for more money.

"A council’s first duty is to its residents. Any authority which spends such a huge amount on communications at the same time as complaining about reduced Government funding, needs to take a long, hard look at themselves.”