THE number of councillors at Newport City Council could increase from 50 to 51, final recommendations for electoral changes in the city reveal.

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales has submitted its final recommendations for the future electoral arrangements in Newport to the Welsh Government.

The commission has recommended there should be 51 councillors representing 21 electoral wards, both an increase of one.

Under the proposals the average electorate in a Newport council ward would be 2,146.

The commission has put a maximum of no more than 25 per cent either side of this.

Under the new proposals the Tredegar Park and Marshfield ward would be the most under-represented ward. It would be 25 per cent above the average and at the limit according to the commission.

Currently, Tredegar Park is the most under-represented ward and is 54 per cent above the recommended county average.

The most over-represented wards under the new proposals would be the Beechwood and Bettws wards. They would be 15 per cent below the recommended average of 2,146.

Currently, Stow Hill is the most under-represented ward and is 23 per cent below the proposed county average.

The commission is recommending 18 multi-member wards – seven two-member wards, ten three-member wards, and one four-member ward.

No changes have been proposed to 11 electoral wards.

What are the 11 electoral wards that will remain the same?

  • Allt-yr-yn
  • Alway
  • Beechwood
  • Bettws
  • Caerleon
  • Gaer
  • Malpas
  • Ringland
  • Shaftesbury
  • St Julians
  • Victoria

What changes have been proposed?

The proposals include changes to nine wards and the creation of an additional ward.

In the proposals, the commission recommends Afon Village in Graig is combined with the west ward of the community of Rogerstone to create Rogerstone West. This area would be represented by two councillors.

The remainder of Graig would continue to be a two-member ward.

The rest of Rogerstone would be split into two single-member wards known as Rogerstone East and Rogerstone North.

The communities of Coedkernew, Marshfield, Michaelstone-y-Fedw, Tredegar Park and Wentlooge would be combined to form a three-member ward known as Tredegar Park and Marshfield.

The ward of Stow Hill would be made up of the Mon Bank development, which is currently in the Pillgwenlly ward, and the community of Stow Hill. It would be represented by two councillors.

The remainder of Pillgwenlly would form its own two-member ward.

The communities of Bishton, Langstone, Llanvaches and Penhow would be combined to form a two-member ward called Bishton and Langstone.

Llanwern would be a single-member ward made up of the communities of Goldcliff, Llanwern, Nash and Redwick.

The community of Liswerry would be the only four-member ward if the Welsh Government approved the proposals.

How many councillors will each ward have?

One:

  • Llanwern
  • Rogerstone East
  • Rogerstone North

Two:

  • Bishton and Langstone
  • Graig
  • Pillgwenlly
  • Rogerstone West
  • Shaftesbury
  • Stow Hill
  • Victoria

Three:

  • Allt-yr-Yn
  • Alway
  • Beechwood
  • Bettws
  • Caerleon
  • Gaer
  • Malpas
  • Ringland
  • St Julians
  • Tredegar Park and Marshfield

Four:

  • Liswerry

What has the council said?

Newport City Council has said they welcome the recommendations and believe they have considered “the current and predicted growth of the city when recommending a new structure”.

A council spokesman said: “The council is also pleased that a number of representations made by the authority were accepted, particularly in relation to some areas of the city with socio-economic challenges and the importance of appropriate democratic support in those areas.

“The recommended changes to some electoral wards will also deliver a marked improvement in the level of electoral parity across the city – a positive development for the electorate.

“We look forward to hearing the views of the Minister for Housing and Local Government, and preparing for effective implementation of the new arrangements in time for the next local government elections.”

What happens now?

The commission has submitted the proposals to the Welsh Government who will now consider whether to approve them for implementation.

To view the final recommendations visit https://ldbc.gov.wales/reviews/08-20/newport-final-recommendations