Community Reviews under the Local Government (Democracy)(Wales) Act 2013
Cyngor Gwynedd has completed a Review of Community Electoral Arrangements under section 31 of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013, and has published its final report.
The Council may make an order to implement the changes in the report, after the expiry of a period of 6 weeks commencing with the date of publication of this report.
A copy of the Report is also available for inspection (free of charge) at the Council's Offices, Shirehall Street, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH for a period of 6 weeks.
What is a Community?
For the purposes of these reviews, a 'community' is a local government unit that lies below county council level (the ‘principal council'). Community areas cover the whole of Wales. Gwynedd is divided into 64 communities, with an elected community, town or city council serving each. In this context the legal status of the councils is the same whatever they are called, i.e. they are all classed as 'community councils'. Communities in turn can be divided into wards for electoral purposes but this is not inevitable, and not all communities in Gwynedd are divided into wards.
What is a Community Review?
As a principal council Cyngor Gwynedd has a statutory duty, under the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 to monitor the communities within the county, and the electoral arrangements of those communities. It must also carry out 'community reviews’ when the Act requires, or when it considers appropriate. In carrying out these duties the Council must still seek to ensure effective and convenient local government.
There are two types of community reviews that the Council can undertake:
A Review of Community Boundaries (under section 25 of the Act): A review of the boundaries of one or more communities to ensure that they continue to reflect the identity of the area concerned and facilitate effective and convenient local government. Community boundary changes include changes to the boundary of an existing community, or the dissolution of an existing community and the creation of a new community.
A Review of Electoral Arrangements (under section 31 of the Act): This involves looking at the electoral arrangements within a particular community, which means considering the situation in relation to wards and the number of councillors. In carrying out such a Review the Council may look at:
the number of members of the council for the community;
the division into wards (if appropriate) for the purpose of the election of councillors;
the number and boundaries of any wards;
the number of members to be elected for any ward;
the name of any ward.
Review of the Electoral Arrangements (section 31)
It is intended to conduct a review of all communities within Gwynedd and to consider all the matters listed above. On the basis of the information we currently have, we believe it necessary to look particularly at the question of whether a community should be divided in to community wards. This will be done having regard, in accordance with the Act, to whether the number or distribution of electors for the community is such as to make a single election of community councillors impracticable or inconvenient, and whether it is desirable for any area of the community to be represented separately on the community council. That is to say, to consider whether it is beneficial for communities to be divided into wards.
Boundary Review (section 25)
As part of the Council’s duty to monitor its communities we recently asked community councils if there were any issues they would like to bring to our attention in relation to the current boundaries. Specific issues have been brought to our attention, and it is therefore intended to also undertake a review of the boundaries of those communities relevant to the issues raised, namely
Llanllechid - the community boundary currently divides the Llwyn Bedw housing estate meaning there are some houses in the Bethesda community
Y Felinheli – there are currently a number of properties located along Heol Heulyn that are within the village of Felinheli, which are in the community of Pentir rather than the community of Y Felinheli
Llanelltyd and Ganllwyd - that it would make sense to merge the two councils into a single council in the Mawddach Valley
Llanegryn - a private individual has submitted an application to modify the boundary of the community of Llanegryn so that all the land of Rydygarnedd Farm falls within that community as part of it was moved to the community of Tywyn in 1987.
In undertaking these reviews, each area will be considered on its own merits, having regard to its population, geography and pattern of communities.
The statutory process in carrying out a community review is largely the same for both types of community review. It differs only in terms of the outcome of the review, and its implementation. The Council is empowered to make an order to implement changes to communities' electoral arrangements but recommendations will have to be made to the Commission, as the implementing authority, to make any changes to community boundaries.
The Act lays down four essential steps to the process:
• Initial publicity
• Initial investigations and consultation - the purpose of this phase is to enable a principal council to gather the information it will need when considering and preparing any proposals for change
• Draft proposals (and consultation on those proposals); and
• Final recommendations
In carrying out the consultations we will include the compulsory consultees set out in the Act but also any other relevant stakeholders, including:
Local government electors
Community Councils
County Councillors
Members of the Senedd
MP’s
The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales
The proposed timetable is set below:
Comunity review
Stage
Action
Date
Approval of Review
Council approves the principle of the Community Review and its Terms of Reference.
March 2024
Initial Publicity and Consultation 1
Initial publicity and publish Terms of reference.Six-week consultation period starting with publication of the Review Terms of Reference.
11 November 2024 - 20 December 2024
Representations considered and Draft Proposals prepared
January/February 2025
Approval of Draft Proposals
Draft Proposals to be considered by Council and approved for further consultation
Full Council March 2025
Consultation 2
Publish the report in accordance with the requirements of the Act and invite comments from the compulsory consultees and other relevant stakeholders (6 weeks)
March/April 2025
Representations considered and preparation of final report to the Full Council
Council to decide final proposals
Full Council July 2025
Publish final proposals as agreed
Publication of the Final Report(1) Make the Order for the Section 31 review (6 weeks after publication of the Final Report)(2) Submit the recommendations of the Section 25 Review to the Commission
July/August 2025
Orders come into force
Next Local Government Elections
May 2027
You may find information about communities including wards, number of councillors and electors below:
The documents are also available for inspection at the Electoral Office, Cyngor Gwynedd, Stryd y Jêl, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH. You can contact us by the means set out below to arrange to view them or if you have any other queries.
