Under the local government reform programme announced yesterday (16^th September 2012) it is proposed to remove the power of councillors to direct council officials.  Under Section 140 of the Local Government Act councillors were empowered to direct officials in respect of planning functions.  This was not widely availed of but was common practice in certain counties.

The reform programme will also see the abolition of town councils with councillors serving on county councils as representatives of ‘municipal districts’.  In other words councilors will only be elected at county level with the town councillor positions being removed altogether.