SOUTHEND council chiefs must be willing to go to court if this year’s census is miscalculated – as it is estimated the 2001 miscount has cost the bourough an estimated £80million.

James Duddridge, the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, feels the council has no option but to pursue a judicial review this time around.

Senior council figures are convinced the miscalculation ten years ago has cost, on average, £8million per year in Government funding.

Mr Duddridge said: “I believe a judicial review would be the only way to secure a just result.

“The counting system we use is archaic and not fit for purpose.

“We need to use more technology and existing records to arrive at a better estimation of the population of a town like Southend.

“We cannot afford to miss out again this time.”

Rob Tinlin, the council’s chief executive, said it would ultimately be up to councillors to decide.

He said: “A judicial review is certainly an option.

“I think it is something they would very seriously consider if the same problem were to happen again.

“We have pushed and pushed for better accuracy this time, but there are still concerns there could be an under-count.”

In April 2001, the census figures claimed there were 160,256 people living within Southend Council’s boundaries.

However, council bosses are sure the actual population was far larger because of the town’s seasonal jobs, the number of people living in shared homes and ethnic minorities who might not have taken part in the survey.

Based on health and council tax records, the authority estimated the census had under-counted the number of people living in the borough by about 17,000.

After unsuccesfully challenging the count in Westminster in a bid for more funding, councillors chose not to take their case to the courts on that occasion.