To submit
the report of the Senior Manager (Corporate Support) (attached).
Minutes:
The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, Councillor R.Medwyn Hughes, submitted a report inviting the Council to
submit observations to the Boundary Commission on its review of Gwynedd
Council's electoral boundaries.
He also referred to the content of the additional paper distributed to
the members which updated the Council on proposals for the Bangor City area and
proposals for the Pen Llŷn area following local
discussions.
An amendment was proposed and seconded that more consideration should be
given to the Pen Llŷn Area and the Bangor Area
due to the unique circumstances in those areas, namely the number of taxpayers
who lived in some of the areas in Pen Llŷn, many
who paid full tax and more; Bangor wards, which had a high number of students
which again were not considered in this paper and the Marchog
ward, which was a Communities First area, and therefore unique again.
The Chief Executive explained that the timetable did not allow for more
consideration of the specific proposals as the Council's response needed to
reach the Boundary Commission by the following morning.
In response to an observation that the community councils had not given
much response to the review, the Senior Manager - Corporate Support explained
that this had been because of the difficulties with the timetable, which
bridged the electoral period for those councils, as with this Council. He noted that every community council had
received a letter from the Commission and that this Council had contacted
community councils in the areas which were specifically affected by the
proposals.
In response to the amendment, the Senior Manager - Corporate Support
noted that he could include the points regarding the unique situation of the
Pen Llŷn and Bangor areas in the letter to the
Commission.
It was noted that the Independent Group had submitted some additional
observations to its assistant at the group meeting that morning and it was
agreed that the Senior Manager - Corporate Support would contact the officer to
obtain those observations.
With the Council's agreement, the proposer withdrew his amendment as the
substance of the amendment would be incorporated in the Council's response to
the review.
RESOLVED
(a)
To approve the Audit and Governance Committee's
recommendation that no change should be proposed to the following
constituencies:-
·
Arfon
– Arllechwedd, Bethel, Deiniolen,
Dewi (Bangor), Gerlan, Glyder
(Bangor), Groeslon, Llanberis,
Llanrug, Ogwen, Pentir, Penygroes, Tregarth and Mynydd Llandygai, Waunfawr, Felinheli.
·
Dwyfor
– Abererch, Cricieth, Dolbenmaen, Efail Newydd / Buan, Llanystumdwy, Nefyn, Porthmadog (East), Porthmadog
(West), Porthmadog (Tremadog),
Pwllheli (South), Pwllheli
(North).
·
Meirionnydd
– Aberdyfi, Barmouth, Brithdir and Llanfachreth / Ganllwyd / Llanelltyd, Bowydd and Rhiw, Corris and Mawddwy, Dolgellau (South), Dolgellau (North), Penrhyndeudraeth, Bala.
(b)
To approve the specific proposals
recommended by the Audit and Governance Committee (and highlighted in full in the report - paragraphs 9.1 - 9.9) in
relation to the following constituencies:-
·
Caernarfon Town Area
·
Ffestiniog
Area
·
Tywyn
Area
·
Trawsfynydd,
Harlech, Dyffryn Ardudwy and Llanbedr Area
·
Llanrug
Area
·
Llanllyfni,
Talysarn and Nantlle Area
·
Clynnog,
Trefor and Llithfaen Area
·
Penllyn
Area
·
Llanegryn,
Bryncrug and Friog Area
(c)
To approve the proposals recommended
for the Llanwnda, Groeslon
and Carmel Area as a result of consultation with the relevant local members (and highlighted in full in the report -
paragraph 8.3).
(ch) To approve the
proposals recommended for the Bangor Area following further discussions with
the City Council and Bangor local members, namely:-
·
Pentir,
Dewi and Glyder constituencies to remain as they
currently are.
·
Marchog
Constituency (1,559) to remain as it currently is including keeping two members
due to the size of the ward and also owing to the nature of the deprived
community which increases the work load of any member representing the
constituency.
·
Merge the Menai
and Garth constituencies (1,439) but again pressing for two members here owing
to the workload as a result of the presence of thousands of students in the
area and the fact that the University intends to introduce a new system of
trying to get more students to vote locally.
·
Split the Deiniol
ward around Glanrafon and the Cathedral with the north-eastern
side of it joining the Hirael ward to create a
constituency of approximately 1,200 and the south-western part of it, including
Cae Llepa, joining the Hendre ward to create a constituency of approximately
1,250.
(d)
To approve the proposals drawn up for
the Abersoch, Aberdaron, Botwnnog, Tudweiliog, Morfa Nefyn and Llanbedrog Area as a result of consultation with local
members in the Llŷn area, namely:-
·
A constituency for the Llanbedrog community extending from Penrhos
to the Coed y Fron cross-road,
Mynytho, which includes Llanbedrog
(768) and Mynytho up to Coed
y Fron (approx. 450)(single-member constituency with
approximately 1,218 electors).
·
Another constituency for the Llanengen community from the Coed
y Fron cross-road which will include the rest of Llangian (approx. 53 electors beyond Mynytho),
Llanengan (333) and Abersoch
(523) as a one-member constituency with approximately 909 electors.
·
Merge the constituencies of Aberdaron (733) and Botwnnog
(724) to create a new constituency of 1,457 electors (two entire Community
Councils).
·
Merge the constituencies of Tudweiliog (660) and Morfa Nefyn and Edern (897) to create
one new constituency of 1,557 electors (two entire Community Council areas).
(dd) To authorise the officers to submit the proposals,
together with the additional points made during the discussion, to strengthen
the case for the aforementioned proposals.
Supporting documents: