Ceredigion Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed

Welsh Government accepts LDBCW recommendations

Reforms to Ceredigion 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 31 May 2019 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 Ceredigion’s number of councillors will reduce by 4, taking the council from 42 to 38 members. This results in an average of 1,384 electors per councillor.

Meanwhile the number of wards will be reduced from 40 to 34, with 4 of those wards electing 2 members.

19 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 Ceredigion.

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

• Aberteifi/Cardigan-Mwldan
• Aberystwyth Penparcau
• Aberystwyth Rheidol
• Borth
• Ceulanamaesmawr
• Ciliau Aeron
• Faenor
• Llanarth
• Llandyfriog
• Llanfarian
• Llanfihangel Ystrad
• Llangeitho
• Llangybi
• Llanrhystyd
• Llanwenog
• Melindwr
• Tirymynach
• Trefuerig
• Ystwyth

Recommendations not accepted by Welsh Government:

• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Ceulanamaesmawr is given the single name of Ceulanamaesmawr. The electoral ward will be given the single name of Ceulan a Maesmawr.
• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Llanarth be given the single name of Llanarth. The electoral ward will be given the single name of Llannarth.
• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Aberporth and Y Ferwig is given the Welsh language name of Aberporth a’r Ferwig. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Aber-porth a’r Ferwig.
• The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Llandysul North and Troedyraur be given the Welsh language name of Gogledd Llandysul a Throedyraur. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Gogledd Llandysul a Throed-yr-aur

1. The Final Recommendations report for Ceredigion Council can be found here, along with maps of each proposed ward: https://ldbc.gov.wales/reviews/05-19/ceredigion-final-recommendations
2. The Welsh Government Written Statement can be found here: https://gov.wales/written-statement-local-authority-electoral-boundary-review-update-4