The Tasmanian Government has announced the number of councillors on six of the State’s councils will be reduced following the Local Government Board’s Review of Councillor Numbers.

 

The State Minister for Local Government, Bryan Green, said he had fully accepted the Board’s recommendations that will result in fewer councillors elected to the Central Coast, Devonport City, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Glenorchy City, Kingborough and Tasman Councils.

 

Of the seven councils who volunteered to participate in this review, six will see a reduced number of councillors phased in over the next two council elections, scheduled for October 2013 and October 2015," said Mr Green.

 

"I will also be recommending that the Governor make orders that casual vacancies not be filled until the desired reduction is achieved.

 

"The Board considered the potential impact of any change of councillor numbers on representation of the community, the ability of the council to make decisions, any financial impacts, the ability of the council to deliver services, electoral arrangements and statewide consistency.

 

 "During the review, the Board has also developed a consistent and transparent framework for the future determination of councillor numbers that can be applied across the state."

 

The review began in November 2011 with the Board finalising its recommendations in July followed by further consultation with councils and their communities.

 

The Board recommended no change in the number of councillors elected to the Break O'Day Council which also took part in the review.

 

The reduction in councillor numbers will be as follows:

Council

Current number of councillors

New number of councillors

Current population per councillor

New population per councillor

Councillors to be elected in 2013

Councillors to be elected in 2015

Central Coast

12

9

1 812

2 416

5

4

Devonport City

12

9

2 129

2 839

5

4

Glamorgan-Spring Bay

9

8

501

563

4

4

Glenorchy City

12

10

3 726

4 472

5

5

Kingborough

12

10

2 848

3 417

5

5

Tasman     

9

7

268

345

3

4