Final Recommendations published in Vale of Glamorgan Community Review
The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales has today (16 April) published its final recommendations for the Vale of Glamorgan’s updated Communities.
The Vale of Glamorgan is divided into 27 Communities, all of which have their own Town or Community Council, apart from the Community of Rhoose.
The Community Review looked at all Community boundaries within the Vale of Glamorgan, with changes recommended to boundaries where a need was identified.
The Boundaries of Community Wards are also recommended to be changed, along with the electoral arrangements of Town or Community Councils.
The Commission held two separate consultation periods during the Review, resulting in 259 representations being submitted by the public.
Those wishing to comment on the Commission's final recommendations can do so by writing to the Local Government Democracy Team, Local Government Policy Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, or by email to: LGPolicy.Correspondence@gov.wales.
Among the changes recommended by the Commission are:
- an overall reduction in the number of community areas in the Vale of Glamorgan from the current 27 to 19 (A reduction of 8 community areas).
- an overall reduction in the number of town and community councillors from 269 to 205 (A reduction of 64 community councillors).
- 2 unchanged communities (Rhoose & St Athan).
- The creation of seven new community wards : Waterfront (Barry), Cosmeston (Penarth), Brooklands (Wenvoe), Dyffryn (St Nicholas and Bonvilston), Cowbridge North (Cowbridge), Cowbridge Central (Cowbridge) and Llanblethian(Cowbridge).
- A maximum Council Size of 23 councillors (Barry) and a minimum of 7 councillors (Colwinston and Llangan, Llancarfan, Peterston & St Georges, Sully and Lavernock, andWenvoe)
Commenting on the publication of the final recommendations, Chief Executive of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ said:
“The Commission would like to thank our partners in Vale of Glamorgan council, town and community councils, and the members of the public who submitted their views on their communities throughout this review.
”Communities are a vital part of Wales’ local democracy and its vital that they continue to accurately represent the people of the Vale of Glamorgan, and that we can ensure good democratic health at every level of government in Wales.
“These recommendations will help to ensure that the Vale of Glamorgan has viable and resilient community councils over the coming years as well as providing the most appropriate building blocks for the Commission’s future electoral reviews of the Vale of Glamorgan’s county council wards.”
It is now for Welsh Government and its Ministers to decide how to proceed. Ordinarily they will make an Order giving effect to the recommendations.