Local Government Boundary Commission Starts Electoral Reviews

In summary, the Directions state:

• That councils should have a minimum of 30 and maximum of 75 councillors;
• That the ratio of councillors to electors be no less than 1:1750;
• That the Commission consider multi-member or single member divisions as they see fit.

The Commission intends holding briefing meetings in each principal authority area to explain the process and to answer any questions on the law or the process and all community and town council clerks are being copied into the letters being sent by the Commission. There is a nine week period for initial comments in each area so each council is asked to make sure that they are represented at the presentations. The whole review process for each council area will take up to twelve months to finish.

Council Size

The Commission will consider the right number of councillors by taking into account the particular characteristics of each area in the context of the framework set out in the Directions.  The Commission will, as far as practicable, act consistently between one council and another and within each council area. At present there are some wide variations between councils and also within councils. The key task for the Commission is to improve democracy in Wales so the there is an equal value to your vote wherever you live within a council area and within Wales.

Single-Member and Multi-Member Electoral Divisions

The Rules, as set out in legislation, need the Commission to give a single elected member for each electoral division. Should the Commission consider that there are grounds to alter the present pattern of single and multi member divisions the Commission will look to see whether a change is broadly supported by the electorate.

Ratio of Councillors to Electors

The Rules say that the number of electors shall be, as nearly as possible, equal in every electoral division in the council area. We should also take into account any change in the number or distribution of the electors likely to happen within five years from the review.

The Commission recognises that there may be particular demographic or other reasons which may justify a departure from the ratio of 1:1,750.  The Commission will take into account a wide range of reasons affecting individual areas, always bearing in mind the Commission’s obligation to make proposals for changes which are desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government.

Electoral Division Building Blocks

The Commission will use the communities and community wards, where they exist, as the building blocks for the electoral divisions.  There will be no change to any community council boundaries during this process. However, it could mean that where a community or town council is warded for electoral purposes, these community wards may be divided between adjoining electoral divisions of the County or county borough council in order to achieve a fairer distribution of electors to councillors.

Electoral Division Names

Should new electoral divisions be set up, the Commission must by law, propose a new electoral division name which shall be in English and Welsh. The Commission will take account of local views and Welsh Language issues in finalising the name.

Timetable

The Directions want the Commission to finish this programme of electoral reviews by the end of June 2011. Four reviews are presently underway in Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Denbighshire and Flintshire with Rhondda, Cynon Taf and Anglesey being in the next sequence.