Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support.

That the Council approve the holding of community reviews under sections 25 and 31 of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 and the Terms of Reference.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, Councillor Menna Trenholme, submitted the report which reported on the statutory duty on Cyngor Gwynedd, under the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 to monitor communities in the County, and the electoral arrangements of those communities.

It was reported that there were two types of community surveys that the Council should consider conducting, namely a Review of community boundaries (section 25 of the Act) and a Review of electoral arrangements (section 31 of the Act). It was emphasised that it was not intended to review every community, only those that highlighted a need for change due to specific circumstances.

The four essential steps in the process were reported upon, i.e. Initial publicity, Initial investigation and consultation, Draft proposals and Final recommendations. The Council was asked to approve the outlined process. It was noted that this would allow for the consultation process to be conducted.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions.  The following matters were raised by individual members:-

A comment was made on the date included in the table on page 297 of the pack, which referred to Consultation 2, and the member asked whether the date of January/February 2024 was correct. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that January/February 2025 was the correct date and that the table would be corrected.

It was noted that changes to the boundaries had already occurred where a reduction was seen in the number of Councillors in Gwynedd from 75 to 69. It was asked whether changes would be made to the Community Councils.

The Propriety and Elections Manager confirmed that the County Council operated within the same role as the Boundary Commission did with us as a County Council. This meant that the Council was responsible for the Community Councils. The survey of community boundaries would be carried out to coincide with the Democracy Commission when they would come to look at County boundaries.