POLITICIANS have failed to agree on a new electoral ward boundary system for Stoke-on-Trent.

The Electoral Commission's Boundary Committee for England is currently consulting on moves to increase the number of council wards in the city, to allow for single-member wards from 2011.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council supported a proposed switch from 20 three-member wards to 45 smaller single-member wards and carried out its own consultation on the plans last month.

The authority was yesterday expected to formally agree to submit the proposals in its evidence to the Boundary Committee.

But the special full council meeting degenerated into chaos as members bickered over the wording of the council's response.

Confusion arose when a replacement motion was unexpectedly placed before members after the meeting had started.

It said the council supported the principle of single-member wards, but that many residents wanted larger multi-member wards.

The new motion asked the Boundary Committee to proceed with any uncontested ward plans, but look again at areas where concerns had arisen.

However, Labour, the BNP and some independents tried to amend the motion to attack the Electoral Commission's earlier decision to cut councillor numbers from 60 to 45.

The ensuing three-and-a-half hour debate descended into farce as Councillor Roger Ibbs and council leader Ross Irving, who proposed and seconded the amendment, promptly voted against it.

Councillor Alan Joynson, who chaired the committee which examined the ward plans, added to the disarray by accidentally withdrawing the original motion before a vote could be taken.

New chief executive John van de Laarschot stopped the debate twice to warn members of the need to make an effective decision on the matter.

He said: "It is absolutely right that we go out to communities and consult and take those views on board.

"But as city councillors you're not expected to follow, you're expected to lead. You are expected to come to a conclusion."

He added: "From a corporate perspective, what does it say about this council if we fail to put forward a recommendation?"

After a 10-minute recess, Labour group leader councillor Mohammed Pervez submitted a new motion, criticising the Electoral Commission's stance on councillor numbers and asking the Boundary Committee to consider all of the consultation responses.

But the new motion stopped short of endorsing the council's own ward boundary proposals and submitting them with its consultation report.

Many members felt the motion would let the council wash its hands of a decision on ward boundaries.

Councillor Irving said: "I believe we should submit the report, as it stands, along with any recommendations which groups may have on particular issues.

"It's no use making a recommendation that isn't really a recommendation."

Mr van de Laarschot, pictured, also criticised the proposed response and urged councillors to rethink the motion.

But the City Independents helped Labour push Mr Pervez's motion through by just six votes.