Agenda item

For the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider the initial proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales and feedback to the Council meeting on the 20th October 2021.

N.B. All Members of the Council have been invited to contribute to this item

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications introduced

his report and outlined the purpose of the meeting, to propose to Council

for adoption the formal response of the local authority following

consultation of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the proposed new

parliamentary constituency arrangements.

The Director of Legal Services advised Committee that this proposed

approach represented the initial phase with two more separate consultations before final proposals are presented with the final changes due to take effect at the next general election. The Director provided some key information such as the number of constituencies in Wales which are reducing from 40 to 32 and under new Westminster rules each constituency proposed by the Boundary Commission for Wales must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 registered voters. Members were encouraged to provide their general views at this initial stage for the Commission to consider.

Members acknowledged the complexities of the task undertaken by the Boundary Commission and understood that there would be little room for manoeuvre in respect of the initial proposals regarding the County Borough. With this in mind, Members as previously advised by the Director of Legal Services, restricted their comments to broader principles which would be considered by the Boundary Commission.

Members raised concern that these new proposals may cause confusion for the residents of the County Borough distinguishing between local representation at a Senedd and Council level. Members also expressed concern that neighbouring constituencies such as Cardiff North and Cardiff West appeared to be retained within the proposals, albeit with the addition of individual wards from Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Members put forward their points in respect of the electoral wards of Pontyclun and Taffs Well & Nantgarw, expressed concerns on the proposed new Cardiff West and Cardiff North constituencies respectively, feeling that there is limited local connection between them. Members spoke generally of the public perception that the four constituencies of Rhondda Cynon Taf, have been ‘carved up’, as an ‘easier option’ than instead of proposing fundamental redesign of the capital city’s Parliamentary boundaries.

Members relayed similar concerns regarding the communities of Llanharan and Brynna becoming part of a future ‘Rhondda’ parliamentary constituency, which they felt were detached culturally and historically and requested that if any opportunity was available for these to join with the new Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan parliamentary constituencies or as part of the newly proposed Pontypridd Constituency. Members were keen for the Rhondda name to be retained within any future constituency arrangements because of its historical significance in the history of modern Wales and wider County Borough.  

Members queried why Evanstown, will form part of the new Rhondda constituency despite being located in the Ogmore constituency and connecting with Gilfach Goch.

Members were unanimous in their opinion that splitting the Cynon Valley constituencies is more an ‘exercise of convenience’ and referred to the Commissions’ comments that a ‘constituency formed of these areas does not follow the geography of the valleys from north to south’. Members acknowledged that many Aberdare residents would have a greater connection with Merthyr Typfil than Pontypridd for example but pointed out that this would similarly be the case for residents of Aberaman and they wished for this point to also be made.

Importantly Members cited the importance of future proposals taking consideration of the future electoral arrangements for Rhondda Cynon Taf recently introduced by the Welsh Government, which come into effect from May 2022.

In conclusion, Members RESOLVED that the comments and feedback

form part of the Council’s consideration at its meeting on the 20th October

2021 for adoption as the formal response of the local authority to consult

upon the proposed new parliamentary constituency arrangements.