A CONSULTATION on plans to increase the number of councillors in Wrexham up to 55 has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The proposed rise from the current amount of 52 had been put forward as part of a review by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.

Wrexham Council was due to outline its opposition to the change at a meeting on Wednesday as a result of the financial implications, but it was also cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials have now revealed that the process, which would also have seen some ward boundaries withdrawn, has been placed on hold.

In a statement, the commission said: “The commission has been made aware that Wrexham County Borough Council is focusing its resources on the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic and it is unable to respond the commission’s draft report.

“The council has requested that the commission take steps to enable the council to respond once its normal operations are restored.

“In the light of this request and the potential difficulties for other consultees due to the current pandemic, the commission is suspending the consultation in relation to its Wrexham draft proposals with effect from 24 March 2020.

“At present, the commission intends to re-start this consultation on 15 June 2020.

“A suspension until that date will provide a window of 12 weeks for Wrexham County Borough Council and other consultees to adjust their working arrangements in order to be able to respond to the commission’s consultation.”

The commission said it would review the position at a later date and would only restart the consultation when it’s satisfied that disruption caused by the virus has been addressed.

Once it begins again, respondents will have 13 days left to submit their feedback.

The proposed proportion of councillors the commission is looking to achieve is one for around every 1,800 voters in Wrexham to ensure “convenient and effective” local government.

The current average in the county is one for approximately every 1,900 residents.