Keighley’s deputy mayor has suggested Bradford Council could save £390,000 by cutting the number of district councillors from 90 to 60.

Town councillor Judith Brooksbank was reporting back on consultations she attended to discuss Bradford Council’s budget.

The meeting was in Keighley’s Central Hall, Alice Street.

Speaking at the final full town council meeting for 2013 last Thursday, Coun Brooksbank explained: “I said they could cut down one councillor from each of their 30 wards to save this money.

“A show of hands was asked for to see how many people thought it was a good idea and everyone put their hand up.”

She added she had also expressed her opposition to what she said were district council plans to no longer provide social care to disabled people who cannot carry out basic tasks such as getting out of bed, washing and dressing without assistance.

“I said this was a false economy because if you’re not looking after people properly and they are stuck in bed then they’ll get bedsores, those sores will get infected and they will have to go to hospital,” she said.

Town councillor John Philip said he was worried about the impact on provision for young people in his ward, following a meeting he had with representatives from Bradford Council Youth Service.

“Their budget is being cut by so much that it will mean they’ll only have two youth workers in the whole of Keighley constituency – which includes Ilkley,” he warned.

He said this meant activities being laid on to keep young people in Braithwaite and Guard House off the streets were at risk of being axed.

At the end of October, Bradford Council’s leader revealed the authority will be forced to slash £89 million from its budget and axe almost 700 jobs amid major government funding cuts over the next two financial years.

Councillor David Green blamed the government cuts for forcing the council’s hand, saying it was “impossible” to make the savings needed without affecting front-line services.