The number of councillors representing Greenwich could swell to 55 under new proposals backed by members.

The council will lobby the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to consider the increase when it conducts a review of the borough later this year.

A report presented at February’s full council meeting cites the borough’s booming population growth as the primary need for more councillors, with 51 currently representing the borough.

According to the report, the number of electors in Greenwich is predicted to grow to 211,678 2025 by 2025, up from 195,604 currently.

Areas of mass growth include the Woolwich Riverside ward, which could provide almost 10 per cent of electors in the borough by 2025.

The report adds that over the last three years councillors’ casework load has risen between 12-15 per cent, with residents finding it “increasingly easy to contact their local councillor due to social media and efforts by the Council to increase participation”.

Residents are also increasingly expecting timely responses to queries about services and requests for assistance.

“An increase of around eight per cent in councillor numbers will assist members to provide the governance and scrutiny functions required and to provide the representation for residents,” the report said.

If approved, the four extra councillors would be added from 2022.

Cllr Matt Hartley said the Conservative Party, while backing the increase, had concerns over the extra £42,640 in councillors’ allowance which would have to be paid to the new members.

His amendment, which would maintain the budget for members' allowances at the current level to keep costs down was rejected, but the Conservatives backed the original proposal anyway.

his amendment to maintain the budget for members allowances at current levels to keep costs down

Council leader Dan Thorpe  said of the move: “There’s not a single person in this council meeting here in order to get more money out of Greenwich residents”.

He said the cost of the extra politicians was something the council could look at in the future, but urged members to vote on the motion in front of them. which they did promptly.

Council’s recommendation will now be forwarded to the boundary commission, who will consider it when they conduct their review of the borough later this year.