Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Digital Officer enclosed.

Council received the Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Digital Officer in relation to the proposed changes to electoral divisions and ward boundaries for submission to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.

 

Following an introduction by the Leader of Council, Members raised the following issues:

 

o   That valley areas had a high level of deprivation and as a result would require increased representation not less;

o   Concern was expressed that the identities of communities particularly in valley areas would be lost and called on Ministers not to disproportionally disadvantage such areas particularly while Local Government Reform was still a possibility;

o   the Local Member generally agreed with the amalgamation of Lower Brynamman and Gwaun Cae Gurwen;

o   the natural connection between Dyffryn Clydach and Coedffranc North was highlighted;

o   that another way of strengthening the numbers in Trebanos should be explored other than joining with Pontardawe;

o   there had been an increase in population in both Coedffranc West and Dyffryn Clydach and that the number of Members should therefore not be reduced;

o   Dyffryn Clydach was an established community of its own while Bryncoch was part of the Blaenhonddan Community Council area;

o   Although Cwmllynfell was recognised in its own right there was more of a connection with Ystalyfera than the Amman Valley;

o   Glynneath and Cwmgwrach the proposed changes were not supported by the Local Member;

o   Pelenna had its own Community Council whilst the report proposes to split the Ward and merge the areas with the Bryn and Cwmavon and Cimla Wards. It was suggested that the Pelenna Community Council wanted the Ward to be retained as a Ward in its own right, however, if change was necessary the Community Council preference was for the whole of the Ward to be amalgamated with Cimla;

o   the Local Member expressed concern that the projected figures for Coed Darcy were incorrect;

o   Concern was expressed that the Council was not consulting with community councils/residents – it was pointed out that this was not the Council’s consultation exercise but a response from the Council to consultation being carried out by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales at an early stage of the review process;

o   There was an inconsistency around the views of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, which had recognised the increased workload of councillors in its recent draft Annual Report, and the views expressed by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales which was proposing an increase in Councillor : elector ration.

 

Following the above comments the Leader of Council advised Council that to do nothing was not an option and that the number of residents in the valley areas was declining.  Thirteen Councils in Wales had already gone through a similar exercise.

 

Prior to the vote on the following amendment taking place a recorded vote was requested and supported by one sixth of the Members present:-

‘This Council appreciates the work undertaken by Officers to analyse the potential response to the Boundary Commission.

However, we are very concerned that

The boundary reviews are a distraction when the major issues of Local Government Reorganisation and Council budget cuts are unresolved.

The workload of Councillors has increased in the age of austerity

The current proposals will significantly disadvantage our valley areas at a time when Welsh Government and NPT CBC are developing valley strategies.

Some of the proposals would cut across communities or amalgamate wards that are not naturally part of the same settlements.

The Boundary Commission have erred in their assumption that the total number of wards in NPT should be reduced given growth areas.

We note that individual communities and members will also make representations to the commission relevant to their own areas during the consultation.

This Council will inform the Commission and the Minister that the basis of the review is flawed and that any formal consultation should be based on maintaining the current number of Councillors in NPT.

Members voting for the Amendment

 

Cllrs. S.Bamsey, H.C.Clarke, R.Davies, C.Edwards, J.Evans, W.F.Griffiths, J.Hale, N.T.Hunt, S.K.Hunt, H.Jones, J.Jones, S.A.Knoyle, A.Llewelyn, J.D.Morgan, D.M.Peters, R.Phillips, L.M.Purcell, A.J.Richards and C.Williams.

 

 

Members voting against the Amendment

 

Cllrs. A.R.Aubrey, D.Cawsey, C.Clement-Williams, S. ap Dayfdd, D.W.Davies, O.S.Davies, S.E.Freeguard, C.Galsworthy, M.Harvey, C.James, H.N.James, C.J.Jones, L.C.Jones, R.G.Jones, E.V.Latham, A.R.Lockyer, A.McGrath, J.Miller, S.Miller, R.Mizen, S.Paddison, S.M.Penry, M.Protheroe, S.M.Pursey, S.Rahaman, P.A.Rees, S.Renkes, S.H.Reynolds, A.J.Taylor, A.L.Thomas, J.Warman, D.Whitelock, R.W.Wood and A.N.Woolcock

 

Members Abstentions

 

Cllrs. S.Jones and D.Keogh

 

The motion fell and Members then voted on the substantive motion, as contained in the circulated report, as follows:-

 

 

Members voting for the Substantive Motion

 

Cllrs. A.R.Aubrey, D.Cawsey, C.Clement-Williams, S. ap Dayfdd, D.W.Davies, O.S.Davies, S.E.Freeguard, C.Galsworthy, M.Harvey, C.James, H.N.James, C.J.Jones, L.C.Jones, R.G.Jones, E.V.Latham, A.R.Lockyer, A.McGrath, J.Miller, S.Miller, R.Mizen, S.Paddison, S.M.Penry, M.Protheroe, S.M.Pursey, S.Rahaman, P.A.Rees, S.Renkes, S.H.Reynolds, A.J.Taylor, A.L.Thomas, J.Warman, D.Whitelock and R.W.Wood

 

 

 

Members voting against the Substantive Motion

 

Cllrs. S.Bamsey, H.C.Clarke, R.Davies, C.Edwards, J.Evans, W.F.Griffiths, J.Hale, N.T.Hunt, S.K.Hunt, H.Jones, J.Jones, S.A.Knoyle, A.Llewelyn, J.D.Morgan, D.M.Peters, R.Phillips, L.M.Purcell, A.J.Richards and C.Williams.

 

Members Abstentions

 

Cllrs. S.Jones, D.Keogh and A.N.Woolcock

 

RESOLVED:                That the Chief Executive be authorised to immediately submit the preferred option, as contained in the circulated report, to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.