Detailed analysis carried out by engineers earlier this year found defects within the deck beams, trusses, bracing and columns, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
At Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Conservative councillor Tom FitzPatrick said the pier was exposed to “inhospitable conditions” and appeared to require repair work every few years.
“Perhaps the time has come for a top-to-bottom survey that looks at how we care for the structure and puts a proper programme of maintenance in place,” he said.
“It’s 125 years old next year, so let’s make it fit for the future.”
Council leader Tim Adams assured him the recent analysis was a “full structural survey” and not “by some bloke we know from down the road that’s having a look from the foreshore”.