CUMBRAE and the north coast should have another councillor, according to North Ayrshire Council.

Members of the public are being asked for their views on proposals to increase the number of councillors in the Largs and Millport area.

A 12-week public consultation exercise involving all Scottish councils is being carried out from now until Thursday 21 August.

The review is being conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland which has already made recommendations to councils on the number of councillors for each area.

The recommendations have been based on levels of need and population distribution, the first time such methodology has been used.

The Commission has proposed that the total number of councillors representing North Ayrshire should be increased by three, from 30 at present to 33.

North Ayrshire is one of 12 councils from the 32 Scottish local authorities being recommended for an increase in councillor representation.

A reduction has been proposed for 15 councils and no change for the remaining five.

The review process took into account ward boundaries but the remit did not include an assessment of external council boundaries.

The last set of reviews was completed in 2006 following the introduction of multi-member wards for Scottish council elections. The number of councillors on each council was last reviewed shortly after the present structure was set up in 1996.

Final recommendations are expected to be presented to Scottish Ministers in 2016, and the the reorganisation of wards complete for the May 2017 local government elections.

Ronnie Hinds, Chair of the Boundary Commission, said: “We have been encouraged by the discussions we have held with councils on these proposals and look forward to hearing the views of the public over the next 12 weeks.” North Ayrshire Council has responded to the initial consultation by advocating that the number of councillors in the area be increased by five instead of three.

In her response Chief Executive Elma Murray cited North Ayrshire’s “exceptional circumstances” and the demographics of the area for the need for more councillors.

Members of the public can take part in the consultation by logging on to the Boundary Commission website on www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk