THE search is under way for candidates to fight the elections in May's new-look Ryedale District Council.

The authority, one of the smallest in the country in terms of population but with one of the biggest geographical areas, is to see the number of members rise from 23 to 30 as a result of changes by the Boundary Commission.

But already leaders of the groups are predicting that, as now, Ryedale will not have a council with an overall political majority.

An electorate disillusioned with growing influence from Westminster in local government could make the job of finding good candidates hard and turnouts at the ballot box low, according to senior members of the council.

Coun Keith Knaggs, leader of the Conservative group, said his members had strongly opposed the increase in size of the council. "We felt the authority was perfectly capable of working efficiently with 23 members," he said.

On the likely future make-up of Ryedale after the elections, Coun Knaggs thought the Conservatives would still be the largest group, although the Liberal Democrats could win some additional seats.

Coun Keith Orrell, leader of the Liberal-Democrats, said a 30-seat council had been recommended by the Boundary Commission. Ryedale was probably the smallest council in terms of number of members of any in the country.

Coun Gary Hobbs, the authority's solitary Labour member, hopes to have some colleagues after next May. "It will be a challenge for all the parties to find sufficient candidates," he said.

Coun Alan Farnaby, leader of the council and of the Independent group, forecast that the authority would become more political after the May elections.

Updated: 11:04 Monday, January 13, 2003