Blaenau Gwent Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed

Welsh Government accepts LDBCW recommendations

Reforms to Blaenau Gwent 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 a minor modification only made to 1 recommended Welsh language ward name.

The Commission’s Final Recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government 10 April 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 Blaenau Gwent’s number of councillors will reduce by 9, taking the council from 42 to 33 members. This results in an average of 1,545 electors per councillor.

Meanwhile the number of wards will be reduced from 16 to 14, with each ward electing more than 1 councillor.

9 wards will elect 2 councillors, while 5 wards will elect 3 councillors.

5 current wards will see no change under these reforms.

1 recommendation on a Welsh language ward name was 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 Blaenau Gwent.

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

• Brynmawr
• Ebbw Vale South
• Sirhowy
• Cwm
• Georgetown

Recommendation not accepted by Welsh Government:

• The Commission recommended the single name of Beaufort. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Cendl.

The Final Recommendations report for Blaenau Gwent Council can be found here, along with maps of each proposed ward.

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