Labour has been accused of "running scared" after the leader of City Hall urged councillors to call for a delay to this year's elections.
Norwich City Council's Labour leader Mike Stonard has called for May's elections be postponed, warning they would stretch resources needed for the biggest shake-up of local government in decades.
Cabinet members will decide on Wednesday on whether or not to request a delay from the government, a day before its deadline to do so.
The move threatens to cause a major political uproar, with opponents warning it would be a "risk to democracy".
A third of its sitting councillors are up for re-election, but they could remain in their positions indefinitely until the authority is abolished to make way for one or more new unitary councils.
In a report to councillors, Mr Stonard said postponing the elections will "release essential capacity" for the transition to new unitary authorities.
It could also save at least £250,000, which is the average cost of holding elections in Norwich.
Not observing the elections would also avoid some council business being put on hold as part of the pre-election period, which could hamper preparations towards establishing the new council system.
Lucy Galvin, interim leader of the Green Party group in Norwich, said she had "grave concerns" about any potential election delay.
She dismissed claims it was necessary due to "capacity pressures", believing this would not meet the "high legal threshold required to justify suspending the electorate’s right to vote".
She said: "Green city councillors cannot support postponing May's elections.
"The report shows what's administratively convenient, not what's necessary.
"It treats democratic accountability as a logistical hurdle rather than a constitutional right.
"Claims about pre-election restrictions are overstated; councils can still act in emergencies and equality impacts cannot be mitigated by leafleting.
"Public confidence and fairness must come first. It looks like Labour are running scared."
James Wright, leader of the Liberal Democrats, reiterated his party's opposition to any delay, warning any delay would create an "unacceptable void in democratic accountability".
Norwich's Labour MPs, Clive Lewis and Alice Macdonald, have declined to comment.
Norwich's Labour cabinet members will meet at 5.30pm on Wednesday at City Hall to make a decision on its response to the government.
Leader of Tory-controlled Norfolk County Council, Kay Mason Billig, previously said she had no intention of seeking a delay.
Following the publication of the city council report recommending that city councillors request a delay, a county council spokesman confirmed that one would not be sought by County Hall.
He said Conservative leader Mrs Mason Billig would be sending a letter to the minister before Thursday's deadline, restating that view.
Unlike at the Tory-run Suffolk County Council, Norfolk County Council had no full council debate or public cabinet meeting to decide how to respond to the government's invitation to request a delay.
Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, said any decision to delay the elections is "down to the government" but it has warned ministers of capacity issues if they go ahead.
Share