Monmouthshire Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed
Welsh Government accepts LDBCW recommendations
Reforms to Monmouthshire 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 a small number of recommended Welsh language ward names.
The Commission’s Final Recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government 8 June 2021 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 Monmouthshire’s number of councillors will increase by 1, taking the council from 45 (in accordance with the Community Review) to 46 members. This results in an average of 1,599 electors per councillor.
Meanwhile the number of wards will remain at 39, with 7 wards electing 2 councillors.
31 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 Monmouthshire.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the review, the members of the public, councillors, Monmouthshire 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:
- Bulwark and Thornwell
- Caerwent
- Caldicot Castle
- Caldicot Cross
- Cantref
- Croesonen
- Crucorney
- Devauden
- Dewstow
- Gobion Fawr
- Goetre Fawr
- Grofield
- Lansdown
- Llanelly
- Llangybi Fawr
- Llantilio Crossenny
- Magor East
- Magor West
- Mardy
- Osbaston
- Overmonnow
- Park
- Pen Y Fal
- Portskewett
- Raglan
- Rogiet
- Severn
- Shirenewton
- St Arvans
- West End
- Wyesham
Recommendation not accepted by Welsh Government:
- The Commission has recommended the Welsh language name of Castell Caldicot and the English language name of Caldicot Castle. The electoral ward will be given English language name of Caldicot Castle and the Welsh Language name of Castell Cil-y-coed.
- The Commission has recommended the single name of Caldicot Cross. The electoral ward will be given the English name of Caldicot Cross and the Welsh language name of Croes Cil-y-coed.
- The Commission recommended the Welsh language name of Porth Sgiwed and the English language name of Portskewett. The electoral ward will be given the English language name of Portskewett and the Welsh language name of Porthsgiwed.
- The Commission recommended the single name of St Arvans. The electoral ward will be given the English name of St Arvans and the Welsh language name of Llanarfan.
- The Commission recommended the single electoral ward name of St Kingsmark. The electoral ward will be given the English language name of St Kingsmark and the Welsh language name of Llangynfarch.
The Welsh Government Written Statement announcing the decision can be found here.