A LABOUR councillor has broken ranks to vote against reducing the membership of his local town council.

Cllr Liam Cowles said he couldn’t support the proposal as Blaenavon Town Council is the only community council in Torfaen seeing a reduction in the number of councillors under a review led by Torfaen Borough Council.

He reminded the borough council those elected to town and community councils, unlike he and his colleagues on the higher tier authority, are volunteers who do not receive a payment, only a £150 contribution towards costs, for their service.

“The financial savings are negligible of only around £400 a year but the cost to democracy and representation will be greater,” said Cllr Cowles.

The councillor, who represents the town on the borough council and is also a member for its east ward on the town council, said “given the representations from Blaenavon Town Council I can’t support the recommendation as pertaining to........

© South Wales Argus