PROPOSED changes to Scotland's council areas will see the overhaul of the map of Glasgow, with new areas created and the number of councillors increased.

 

Only four of the city's 21 council wards will be unaffected by the changes, which will see the number of elected representatives in the city increase from 79 to 85.

As well as a newly-defined area covering Dennistoun in the east end, another ward will be created in the west end by bringing together Hyndland and Kelvindale, becoming one of the most affluent council areas in Scotland.

Although all of Scotland will see changes under the Boundary Commission's plans, Glasgow will buck the national trend which will see the overall national number of councillors decrease slightly.

The changes are also expected to have the biggest impact on Glasgow.

With most wards seeing the reduction or increase in the number of councillors per ward and boundaries changing, the plans are certain to throw up major party political selection battles echoing the strife in Glasgow which led up to the 2012 election.

There have already been predictions it will be used as an opportunity by some parties to clear out come political dead wood.

Sources across the party spectrum have remained coy about what the proposals could mean for their own political fortunes, but there has been early chatter that ward shifting could have a detrimental impact on some key council players.

The changes have been proposed on the assumption that more elected representatives are required in areas with above average deprivation, with Inverclyde also in line for an additional council ward and more elected members.

But senior sources have cast doubt on that theory.

One said: "The claim more councillors can tackle deprivation is maybe a bit spurious. It's generally the middle classes who know who to work their political representatives. In short, people are asking, is the organisational headache worth the hassle?"

The Boundary Commission is required under law to review each local authority at intervals of eight to 12 years, the last between 2004 and 2006 leading to the current multi-member wards.

The organisation said that as a result of population changes, some councillors may be representing considerably more or fewer electors than colleagues.

Council areas have been categorised based on deprivation and population distribution, claiming "deprivation is a reasonable indicator for a range of factors that impact on council services and on the work of councillors".

It said ministers had indicated they would "find it difficult to justify an increase in the overall number of councillors", with an overall reduction from 1,223 to 1,217 planned.

It has set a limit of a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 85 councillors per authority, with no council going more than 10 per cent either direction.

Had the formula not been in place, the commission's methodology would see Glasgow with around 100 representatives.

It said when designing wards, it would seek to avoid "breaking local ties" such as the location of public facilities or an area's history and tradition.

But concerns have also been raised about breaking the social mix in some areas, particularly in the west of the city.

An SNP group spokesman said: "We will continue to engage constructively with Boundary Commission regarding the proposed wards. We are keen to ensure the wards do not split communities whilst ensuring a proper socio-economic mix."

Ronnie Hinds, chair of the Boundary Commission, said: "We are pleased to initiate our consultation on ward boundaries with councils today and look forward to engaging with them on our proposals.

"It is important that electoral arrangements for Scottish councils are effective and our proposals improve electoral parity and as far as possible take account of local ties and special geographical considerations."

A city council spokesman said: "We are considering how to respond to the commission's consultation."