Politicians are often accused of doing favours for friends, but the same can't be said for councillors at Redland City who could vote to make their council chamber smaller.
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It's a move that could save ratepayers more than $500,000 a year, with the number of councillors shrinking from 10 to either eight or six.
Those in favour of the change say the area has enough politicians and is over-represented, but opponents feel it could stifle local views from being heard.
A report commissioned last year found Redlands councillors, on average, represented fewer people than any other in South East Queensland.
The report found that there were 14,744 residents for each Redlands councillor, excluding the mayor. That was significantly less than in Brisbane (42,710), Logan (25,026), Gold Coast (38,214) and Moreton Bay council (33,000).
Moving to an eight councillor model would put Redlands on par with cities like Ipswich, Townsville and Cairns.
Don Baxter from local residents group Birkdale Progress Association said the decision shouldn't be made as a cost-cutting measure.
"I think it's a bad thing. I don't think people would get the representation they get now," he said.
Mayor Karen Williams said councillors were likely to make a decision in February, sending their recommendation to Electoral Commission Queensland. The ECQ will then make its own recommendation, which the Queensland state government will have the final say on.
"We have an ageing population and we need to keep the costs down wherever we can and at the same time, don't compromise the outcomes and expectations of our community," she said.
"I personally will be listening to what people are saying. I'll be guided by what the consensus is."
Redlands poses a unique challenge to its 11 full-time councillors, each of whom receive a base salary at least $91,726. While other councils in the region are larger, Redlands is split across multiple islands. It means for some councillors, getting around is already a challenge.
However Deputy Mayor Alan Beard is certain the council can do more with less.
"I think we're a little over-represented in terms of councillors in this electorate of Redlands. We've got a federal member, three state members, 10 councillors, plus a mayor.
"We seem to be a little out of kilter with the other councils in South East Queensland."
"Each member of the community will still have direct access to a council representative, and their voice will be heard. That representative might be representing a few more people, but every single member of the community will still have a divisional councillor to call upon."
If the changes go ahead they will be in place before the next Queensland council elections, scheduled to take place in March 2016.
