TOO many elections take place in Worcester says one councillor, who has called for the number of votes to be reduced.

Former Worcester mayor, Conservative councillor Aubrey Tarbuck, wants Worcester City Council to follow the example of Malvern and Wychavon and scrap the regular counts in a bid to save money.

Currently, the city holds elections three years out of every four, with a third of the 35 politicians fighting to hold on to their seats at each poll. 

Coun Tarbuck says Worcester should hold one bigger election for the entire council every four years instead.

Speaking during an audit committee meeting, he said: “If we had one election every four years we’d be saving money. I am sure we’ve considered it by now but this is one of the few councils that actually does this (hold elections almost every year).

“In other areas such as Malvern and Wychavon there’s just one every four years, the entire council is out for election, and it works.

“It would be more economical and less work for our staff, and in these difficult times it’s something we should be doing.”

The cost of a typical city council election is between £60,000 and £80,000.

Lesley Meagher, corporate director of resources, said: “It wouldn’t be a decision officers would take, it would be a council one and a strategic decision.

“But I imagine no stones will be left unturned.

“It would save money, in terms of the cost of holding an election, as well as the decisions that go on hold because they can’t be made in the purdah (pre-election) period. Purely from a financial point of view it would save money.”

The council is currently drawing up plans to save £3.5 million from spending by 2019 in a bid to balance the books.

Some of the ideas include asking volunteers to maintain sports pitches and allotments and handing services to outside providers.