THE LIBERAL Democrat group on Swindon council have hit out at their political opponents saying they should attract more younger councillors.

The Lib Dems say the council has missed the boat by failing to put forward any changes to the council’s make-up to the Boundary Commission this month, which they believe would help to attract younger councillors.

At a meeting of a special committee last week the council responded to a consultation by the Local Government Boundary Commission on how many councillors there should be in the town. The committee voted that the current number of 59 councillors should be retained.

Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott), deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “The problem is that we have too many councillors. There is too much talk and not enough action in Swindon.”

Coun Wood, who at 29 is the only councillor under the age of 30, said: “Councillors here work long hours, with more than 400 places on committees and bodies to fill amongst 59 councillors.

“This is off-putting to the young people, full-time workers or people with care responsibilities Swindon should elect in order to be really representative.”

The Lib Dems are proposing, directly to the Boundary Commission, that the number of councillors in Swindon is reduced from 59 to 42, that elections take place only every two years, and that committees are smaller and more evenly spread.

Coun Wood said: “We are proposing more professional support for residents and fewer councillors.

“By making the council smaller and more focussed, and with a more manageable workload, Swindon will be able to attract younger, dynamic councillors rather than having to rely on councillors who either don’t need to work, or want to be professional politicians.”

The commission announced in June that it would undertake a review of Swindon’s electoral arrangements, as some wards had too many voters for each councillor representing them.