Leaders across political divide on Torfaen council raise concerns over proposed electoral review

Draft proposals published by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales would reduce the number of council members from 44 to 40 and cut the number of electoral wards from 24 to 19 on Torfaen County Borough Council.

Under the proposals 14 of the 19 wards would be multi-member, while some electoral areas would be combined with some name changes.

Existing arrangements would be kept in 12 of the existing electoral wards.

But at a full meeting of the council next Tuesday, Torfaen council is expected to approve submitting its response to the plans which will oppose the timing of the review.

A proposed council response, written by Cllr Anthony Hunt, leader of the council, Cllr Raymond Mills, leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Ronald Burnett, leader of the Independent group and Cllr Robert Kemp, Independent, raises concerns over several aspects of the plans.

On the plans to reduce the number of councillors and electoral wards, the response says: "We do not support the timing of this review and suggest the status quo is maintained until the Welsh Government has considered and resolved its plans for the future of local government in Wales."

Amongst the proposals the council is expected to oppose is reducing the number of councillors representing Upper Cwmbran from three to two.

The council says this would make the ward under represented by 22 per cent in its proposed response.

Plans to combine Cwmnsycoy, Brynwern and Pontypool wards into a new area with two councillors, a reduction from three, will also be opposed under the proposed response.

The council will suggest combining Cwmnyscoy and Brynwern only and retaining the ward of Pontypool with one councillor.

The proposed changes could be introduced in time for the 2022 local government elections.

A 12-week consultation on the proposals closes on August 1.

Find out more by visiting ldbc.gov.wales.