EAST Dorset District councillors have voted to cut their number by seven.

Members approved the reduction from 36 to 29 councillors at a recent meeting.

Their recommendation will now be passed to the Boundary Commission, which will consult the parish and town councils.

It would see the number of electors a councillor serves rise from around 2,000 to 2,585, in line with the national average.

Leader of East Dorset District Council Cllr Spencer Flower said: “Local government is undergoing a rapid and significant transformation, which requires us to seek out new ways of working.

“We believe that the current number of members at East Dorset over-provides for an authority of our size.”

He added: “Reducing member numbers will allow us to work in a more streamlined and efficient manner, while still giving our residents sufficient representation.”

The commission is expected to report to the council later this year.