ARGYLL and Bute Council is set to officially oppose plans which would see councillor numbers cut in Helensburgh.
The authority has also expressed concern at the way it has been consulted on the issue during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Proposals from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS) would see Helensburgh Central left with three councillors instead of four as at present.
Boundaries in Helensburgh would also be redrawn to move some residents in the town from Helensburgh Central to the Helensburgh and Lomond South ward.
Elsewhere, the proposals, if accepted by the Scottish Government, would see councillor numbers in Bute and Cowal reduced from nine to eight.
A report on the issue went before members of the Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group (CPG) last week.
READ MORE: Helensburgh could lose a councillor under new boundary plans
Douglas Hendry, the council's executive director for customer services, says in a letter to the LGBCS: "The council are disappointed that the commission’s starting point, in a similar vein to the 5th Review that was undertaken in 2016, is to recommend a reduction in councillor numbers for the Argyll and Bute area.
“In line with the council’s response at that time, the council objects to the proposals in that they diminish the overall electoral accountability, while failing to take into account material factors in relation to electoral parity, impact of demographic issues such as an ageing population and social and economic deprivation, and the consequent requirement for more effective electoral representation these factors create.
“On this basis, the council rejects any reduction in the overall number of councillors for Argyll and Bute.”
The Boundary Commission is now set to conduct a public consultation on the plans before submitting its final proposals to the Scottish Government, which it anticipates doing in May for implementation – subject to government approval – a year later.
Mr Hendry added: “In addition, and although the council recognises it may not directly relate to the commission’s remit, the council considers that it is a matter of concern that the public consultation is being undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Potentially further restrictions are being applied for the protection of the public, which could adversely impact the public consultation process and the work of the commission overall.”
The commission said in a paper outlining its proposals: “We decide the number of councillors for each council by placing it into a category with similar councils.
“Argyll and Bute Council is grouped with other more rural council areas with below average levels of deprivation, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, with a ratio of electors per councillor of 2,800.
“We are aware that a large change of councillor numbers in a council area can be disruptive, therefore our methodology also incorporates a 10 per cent change rule.
“This means that we will not normally propose increasing or decreasing the total number of councillors in a council area by more or less than 10 per cent as an immediate consequence of the Islands Reviews.”
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