Home - Topics - Number of councillors
Representation - number of councillors
The Local Electoral Act (2001) requires our council to review its democratic structure every
six years. This process is called the Representation Review.The review requires that the council determines the number of councillors and rural community board members you can elect every three years. The review also requires that the council chooses what electoral system is used to elect the councillors.
We currently have twelve (12) councillors, a mayor and a six (6) member rural community board. That makes nineteen (19) elected representatives in total. Nine of the councillors are elected from the urban ward and three from the rural ward. The rural ward elects the rural community board.
A Local Authority may elect six (6) to thirty (30) elected members. Councillors are paid from a common pool determined by the Remuneration Authority criteria based mainly on the population of the district represented. The salaries and expenses of elected representatives are paid by Wanganui ratepayers.
Advantages of reducing councillor numbers
- Some savings may be made in administration costs through reducing the number of councillors
(telephone/travel/printing etc)- It may be possible to reduce the amount paid out each year for councillor salaries and reduce the overall salary pool
- Groups tend to work better with smaller numbers
- The rural community board could play a more prominent role
Disadvantages of reducing councillor numbers
- Fewer councillors may result in each councillor being paid more
- There may be no salary savings overall if the remuneration pool stays the same
- Councillors would have a greater workload
- It may reduce the opportunity for some groups in the community to be represented around the council table
- Councillors may have less contact with individuals in the community
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