Neath Port Talbot Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed

Welsh Government accepts LDBCW recommendations

Reforms to Neath Port Talbot 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 Welsh language ward names.

The Commission’s Final Recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government 20 August 2020 and minister for finance and local government, Rebecca Evans MS, has today confirmed that the decision has been made to accept the recommendations.

The changes accepted by the Welsh Government mean that Neath Port Talbot’s number of councillors will reduce by 4, taking the council from 64 to 60 members. This results in an average of 1,767 electors per councillor.

Meanwhile the number of wards will be reduced from 42 to 34, with 20 of those being multi-member wards.

14 wards will elect 2 councillors while 6 wards will elect 3 councillors.

16 current wards will see no change under these reforms.

A small number of recommendations on Welsh language 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 Neath Port Talbot.

“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the review, the members of the public, councillors, Neath Port Talbot 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:

• Aberdulais
• Allt-wen
• Baglan
• Briton Ferry East
• Briton Ferry West
• Bryn and Cwmavon
• Bryncoch North
• Cadoxton
• Coedffranc North
• Godre'r Graig
• Neath East
• Neath North
• Neath South
• Rhos
• Sandfields East
• Sandfields West

Recommendations not accepted by Welsh Government:

• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Trebanos be given the Welsh language name of Trebannws. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Trebanos
• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Resolven and Tonna is given the Welsh language name of Resolfen a Thonnau. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Resolfen a Thonna.
• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Blaengwrach a Gorllewin is given the Welsh language name of Blaengwrach a Gorllewin Glyn-nedd. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Blaen-gwrach a Gorllewin Glyn-nedd.

The Final Recommendations report for Neath Port Talbot Council can be found here, along with maps of each proposed ward.

The Welsh Government Written Statement outlining the decision can be found here.