Dundee City West Joe FitzPatrick will decide whether to proceed with controversial plans to split the Broughty Ferry council ward in two.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has recommended the ward should be split and two new councillors should be elected.
Its fate now rests in the hands of the MSP for its neighbouring parliamentary constituency.
There has been widespread opposition to the plans, with more than 1,000 people signing a petition against them and Dundee City Council also urging the Scottish Government to reject the proposals.
North East Scotland Conservative MSP Liam Kerr has warned splitting Broughty Ferry would be an “act of vandalism”.
The Scottish Government has the power to implement the Commission’s recommendations or make further amendments.
However, the final decision will be made by Joe FitzPatrick, the minister for parliamentary business and MSP for Dundee City West, rather than local government minister Kevin Stewart.
This is because all issues relating to electoral matters fall under his remit.
Mr Kerr has now written to both Mr FitzPatrick and Kevin Stewart urging them not to implement the Broughty Ferry changes.
Mr Kerr said: “The opinion of the people of Broughty Ferry was made clear to the commission and indeed forced Dundee City Council to completely reverse its position.
“There are strong local community ties which would be broken by the change. Furthermore, the East End ward has no Conservation Area, whereas much of West Ferry is included in Broughty Ferry’s three conservation areas.
“Broughty Ferry Community Council takes a huge interest in the built environment, while East End at present has no community council.”
Mr Kerr added: “The level of objections was extremely high and shows the strength of feeling locally. In my view, this would be nothing short of an act of vandalism towards the local community.
“I hope that the Minsters will give serious consideration to this issue and not simply accept the recommendations of the Commission, which I believe has simply disregarded the views of the local population.”
In his letter to Mr FitzPatrick, Mr Kerr states: “The dividing of Broughty Ferry in two would be an act of vandalism on the community of Broughty Ferry. It is united in its opposition to the plan and has forced the city council to re-think its initial position which was support the new wards.”
The wards of Coldside, Maryfield and East End would also be affected by the Boundary Commission’s proposed changes.
Although councillors originally backed the plans – which were only opposed by Ferry councillor Derek Scott – they reversed their position in March and the local authority has now called on the Scottish Government not to implement the proposed changes.
The administration also believes the cost of electing two new councillors at a time of increased budget austerity is neither justifiable nor affordable.
The decision of what is to happen will now be made by the Scottish Government and the city council will write to Kevin Stewart MSP, the newly appointed local government minister, advising him of their objections.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “There is a lot of evidence that we are still to consider.
“We will make a decision in due course.”
