Croydon looks set to retain 70 councillors as part of upcoming ward boundary changes, despite calls from the borough's Conservative group to cut the number of elected members.

In May, the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBCE) said it planned to carry out a review of the borough's electoral map, with the aim of correcting disparities between population sizes in certain council wards.

Following the LGBCE's announcement, the borough's Conservative opposition group unveiled proposals to slash the headcount of councillors in the chamber from 70 to 60, arguing there was a "clear moral case" for the reduction in a bid to cut costs.

But announcing the launch of a public consultation today as the first stage of the review, the LGBCE said it was "minded to recommend that the council should have 70 borough councillors in the future: the same as the current arrangements".

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At a full council meeting in July, Jason Perry, Conservative councillor for Croham, said the “advent of digital and email working has made the role of a councillor much more efficient”.

Arguing that "the people want less government, not more", Cllr Perry also suggested the modern-day workload of elected members had been significantly reduced by the outsourcing of council services.

After being informed of the LGBCE’s decision, Conservative leader Tim Pollard said he believed the commission had “missed an opportunity”.

He added: “Given what councillors have to do these days compared to what they had to do, and given trends everywhere else with the number of officers interfacing with the public and number of MPs being reduced, it’s hard to see how it’s sensible not to reduce the number of councillors.

“They (the LGBCE) took the idea seriously, but they decided not to make the change – and that’s their privilege.”

The council's majority Labour group had supported keeping 70 councillors.

Currently, three wards - the Conservative strongholds of Coulsdon East, Sanderstead, and Selsdon and Ballards - in the less densely populated south of Croydon contain more than 10 per cent fewer voters than the borough average.

By contrast, Labour-controlled Broad Green in the north of the borough has an electorate 11 per cent larger than average.

Speaking to councillors in May, LGBCE's Richard Buck said it was "certain that the map will change" following the review ahead of the 2018 council elections.

The review will "take into account topography and geography" and look to "understand the level of growth that's likely" in Croydon, Mr Buck added.

RELATED: Political map of Croydon 'certain to change' in upcoming boundary review 

Launching the public consultation today, LGBCE chairman Professor Colin Mellors said the commission would "take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters" as part of the review.

He added: "We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Croydon or just a small part of the borough.

“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Croydon, then this consultation is for you.

"Alternatively, if you’re simply interested in the way the borough is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say."

The public consultation into Croydon electoral boundaries will run until December 5, before the LGBCE publishes its draft recommendations in February 2017.

Visit consultation.lgbce.org.uk to take part in the consultation.

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