A THIRD of councillors in Brighton and Hove could stand down before the next election.

Struggling to balance family life and council responsibilities has left scores of councillors already indicating that they will not stand for re-election in a peer review by the Local Government Association.

Conservatives confirmed two councillors will stand down at the 2015 election while Labour said at least four representatives will quit.

The Green group is still to confirm all of its candidates but if the LGA report is correct, as many as half of their 20 councillors could stand down.

Party leader Jason Kitcat, his wife and fellow Regency ward representative Ania Kitcat, housing chairman Bill Randall and deputy leader Ian Davey have already confirmed they will not stand for re-election.

The LGA report said a “significant proportion” of elected members were “looking for greater understanding and flexibility” from the authority and recommended the council should look at revising the “timing and frequency” of council meetings.

Green councillor Geoffrey Bowden, who said he had still to make up his own mind on whether to stand again, said he had to balance 40 hours of council work a week with running his own company and finding time for a home life.

He said receiving calls about council work at 3am “came with the territory” of the job.

He said: “If you look at the profile of the Green group it’s considerably younger than the other groups, we have councillors with young children and babies.

“With all the commitments of being a councillor, it’s not surprising that a lot of people are thinking about their futures.”

Councillor Ian Davey said it had been an honour to serve but the role was not “a job for life”.

He said: “Being a councillor is a rewarding but demanding role that leaves little time to devote to one’s family or to pursue other professional interests and I need to prioritise both of these in the coming years.”

Green councillor Ruth Buckley, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said the Green party was finalising its first wave of selections but further phases meant the process would not be completed until October.

She said: “Career politicians lose the valuable perspective of the person on the street.”