INVERCLYDE will get two extra councillors from next year at a cost of around £45,000 – despite widespread condemnation of the move.
Scottish Government ministers have approved proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to increase the number of elected members from 20 to 22.
The legislation was rubber-stamped in Holyrood on Wednesday and will come into force at the end of this month – in plenty of time for next year’s council elections.
It comes despite strong opposition from Inverclyde Council and the majority of councillors. Much of the resistance is due to the added financial burden on the local authority of having two extra councillors, which officials say could cost around £45,000.
But SNP council group leader Chris McEleny – whose party also rejected the increase – said today that he has received assurances the Scottish Government will foot the bill.
He said: “Although we deliver the same services Glasgow does with far fewer councillors to scrutinise the services we are responsible for, the feedback was that people didn’t want more. 
“However I’ve been assured that the Scottish Government will give Inverclyde more money to pay for two extra councillors so I think we need to take the positives out of this. 
“Twenty-two councillors will better all individual councillors to specialise in specific council areas unlike now when some councillors sit on every single committee.”
The changes, which have been debated for two years, will also see the number of wards in Inverclyde increase from six to seven with the creation of Inverclyde Central.
Inverclyde East – which covers Quarrier’s, Kilmacolm and a section of Port Glasgow - will have three elected members – a loss of one.
Mr McEleny said: “The actual geography of the new wards makes better sense.
“If you look to the current ward two, Port Glasgow town centre and Overton in Greenock are part of the same council ward – that has never made sense.”