Proposals to reduce the number of Hyndburn councillors by a third to save nearly £30,000 have been rejected.

Independent councillors put forward the recommendations to cut councillor numbers from 35 to 25 by 2016 claiming ‘there is already enough’ in some wards like Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle.

Group leader Nick Collingridge also proposed reducing allowances to planning committee members and halving the numbers of deputy council leaders as part of their budget saving suggestions.

But council leader Miles Parkinson said having a council with fewer than 30 councillors was ‘not viable’ under electoral commission guidelines.

Hyndburn council last reduced the number of councillors from 47 to 35 back in 2002.

The Independents said under their budget plans they would cut six councillors by 2015 and a further four by 2016 saving the taxpayer £29,436.

Coun Collingridge called for the £742 allocated in expenses to planning committee members be scrapped saving £10,727.

The number of deputy council leaders in the Labour and Tory groups would also be cut by one each saving £10,480.

At a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee, Coun Collingridge said: “They already have enough councillors in places like Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle to run the ship and taking one out doesn't make a lot of difference.”

Coun Parkinson said trying to reduce the number of councillors by ‘one or two’ would be a ‘very expensive process’.

He told the meeting: “There are rules.

“You can’t simply just reduce the number of councillors by yourself as you have to apply for it and have models drawn up.

“It’s a very expensive exercise and you can’t go below 30. These aren’t my words but the electoral commission.”

Tory council group leader Peter Britcliffe said councillor numbers are ‘already down to the bone’ following cuts in 2002.

He told the meeting: “We were the only council in Lancashire that actually did take that cut.

“I find my ward and the people I represent big enough for us as we deal with problems on a day-to-day basis.

“If we cut it even more we are going to diminish the value of the service councillors provide to residents.”