Swansea Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed
Welsh Government accepts LDBCW recommendations
Reforms to Swansea Council’s ward boundaries are to go ahead after the Welsh Government decided to accept the recommendations of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales with minor modifications only made to recommended ward names.
The Commission’s Final Recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government on 3 March 2020 and First Minister Mark Drakeford has today confirmed that the decision has been made to accept the recommendations.
Decisions on council boundary changes are ordinarily made by the Minister for Finance and Local Government. However, with Rebecca Evans MS, the current Minister representing a constituency within the City and County of Swansea, the First Minister was tasked with making the decision in this case.
The changes accepted by the Welsh Government mean that Swansea will gain 3 councillors, increasing the size of the council from 72 to 75 members.
Meanwhile the number of wards will be reduced from 36 to 32, with 21 of those being multi-member wards.
Six wards will elect two councillors, 10 will elect three councillors, three will elect four councillors, and a further two wards will elect five councillors.
15 current wards will see no change under these reforms.
The wards of Dunvant, Killay North, and Killay South will combine to form a new 3-member ward, and a new ward, named Waterfront, will be created which encompasses the Marina and SA1 areas.
A small number of recommendations around ward names were not accepted by Welsh Government.
Responding to the Welsh Government’s decision, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales said:
“I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has accepted these recommendations with only minor modifications.
“These changes will mean greater electoral parity for the people of Swansea.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the review, the members of the public, councillors, Swansea Council, and everyone else who sent us a representation or contributed in any other way.”
The boundary changes are expected to take effect from the 2022 local government elections.
The full list of retained wards:
- Bishopston
- Bonymaen
- Cwmbwrla
- Fairwood
- Landore
- Llansamlet
- Mayals
- Morriston
- Mynyddbach
- Penclawdd
- Penderry
- Penllergaer
- Sketty
- Townhill
- Uplands
Recommendations not accepted by Welsh Government:
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Fairwood is given the English language name of Fairwood and the Welsh language name of Llwynteg. The electoral ward will be given the single name of Fairwood.
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of St Thomas be given the English language name of St Thomas and the Welsh language name of Sain Tomos. The electoral ward will be given the single name of St Thomas.
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Townhill is given the English language name of Townhill and the Welsh language name of Pen y Graig. The electoral ward will be given the single name of Townhill
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Uplands be given the English language name of uplands and the Welsh language name of Tir Uchel. The electoral ward will be given the single name of Uplands.
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of West Cross be given the English language name of West Cross and the Welsh language name of Y Groesffordd. The electoral ward will be given the single name of West Cross.
- The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Pontlliw and Tircoed be given the English name of Pontlliw and Tircoed and the Welsh language name of Pontlliw a Thir-coed. The electoral ward will have the English language name of Pontlliw and Tircoed and the Welsh language name of Pont-lliw a Thir-coed.
The Final Recommendations report for Swansea Council can be found here, along with maps of each recommended ward: https://ldbc.gov.wales/reviews/03-20/swansea-final-recommendations