Sir, – Last year, officers at Hambleton District Council asked councillors to make suggestions for making financial savings.

Among a number of ideas I proposed was that of significantly reducing the number of district councillors. After all, it costs the ratepayers of Hambleton over £400,000 per annum to support the 44 councillors who represent Hambleton.

As a significant number of Conservative councillors fail to regularly attend or participate in council meetings, reducing the number of councillors involved would have many benefits.

It is good to see that the Conservatives have finally come round to supporting my suggestion.

Let’s hope that the Boundary Commission also support this proposal.

In the meantime, I suggest that if residents really want an effective councillor to represent them, they should seriously consider standing for election in May. After all, 23 councillors were returned unopposed at the last election.

Coun B GRIFFITHS Liberal Democrat member, Stokesley ward, Hambleton District Council.