Community Review 2023

Carmarthenshire County Council has resolved to undertake a Community Review of all Town and Community wards within the county area during 2023.

The council has published its Terms of Reference for the review which sets out the review timetable, the scope of the review and how representations can be made.

View the Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference is also available for inspection at the Elections Office, Block 4, Parc Myrddin, Richmond Terrace, Carmarthen, SA31 1HQ.

What is a Community Review?

A Community Review is a legal process where the council will consult with those living in the area, and other interested parties, on the most suitable ways of representing the people in Town/Communities in the review. This means making sure that those living in the area, and other interested groups, have a say in how their local communities are represented.

There are two types of community reviews that may be carried out by a principal council, which are subject to different sections of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (the Act), namely Section 25 and Section 31.

Carmarthenshire County Council has decided to carry out a community review under Section 31-a review of the electoral arrangements of a community (a “section 31 electoral review”).

What the review can change:

The review can consider one or more of the following options:

• change the number of councillors on Town/Community Councils
• unward or ward Town/Communities for the purposes of the election of councillors
• the number and boundaries of any wards
• the number of members to be elected for any ward
• the name of any ward

What the review cannot change:

• Make community boundary changes
• Merge or abolish Town/Community Councils

Who carries out the review

Carmarthenshire County Council is statutorily responsible for carrying out this Community Review. Formal decisions as to the Terms of Reference for the Review and recommendations arising from the Review will be made by Full Council.

Why are we having a review

From time to time, there may be a need to make changes to community areas due to shifts in the population. Such changes may involve changes to the electoral arrangements for the community council. These changes are predominantly achieved by means of community reviews under the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (the Act). 

Under the Act, the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (the Commission) has a general duty to monitor arrangements for local government across Wales. Each principal council however has a duty to monitor the communities in its area and the electoral arrangements of those communities for the purposes of considering whether to make or recommend changes. These changes are brought about by means of a community boundaries review or a community electoral review. Both the Commission and the principal councils, when carrying out their duties, are required by the Act to seek to ensure effective and convenient local government.

How the review will be carried out and how you can make representations:

Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, the council must consult local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body (including a local authority) which appears to the council to have an interest in the Review. 

The Council will therefore:

• publish a Notice and Terms of Reference
• send a copy of the Notice and these Terms of Reference to all Town/Community Clerks 
• send a copy of the Notice and these Terms of Reference to all local Members of the Senedd and Parliament

The timetable below sets out dates for 2 periods of public consultation. The first period of public consultation commences on 13 March 2023. A report of draft recommendations will be considered by Full Council on 14 June 2023 and then a second period of public consultation will commence on 19 June 2023. A report of final recommendations will be considered at its meeting on 11 October 2023.

Draft Recommendations

The second phase of public consultation based on the draft recommendations is now open and will run from the 26 June 2023 to the 7 August 2023. We welcome views from all stakeholders whether for or against the proposals.

Public Notice

Draft Recommendations - Published 26/06/2023.

Have your say

Should you wish to make a submission in response to the draft recommendations you can do this by:

Email: CAElectoralServices@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Phone: 01267 228609

Writing: Electoral Services, Block 4, Parc Myrddin, Richmond Terrace, Carmarthen, SA31 1HQ

The deadline for submissions to the draft recommendations is Monday 7 August, 2023.

The feedback from this consultation was considered at the Full Council meeting on 12 October 2023. A final decision has been made and changes approved will be implemented with the next elections for town and community councils in May 2027.