An overview of the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015, it's passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.
Contents
Overview
The provisions of the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015 (‘the Act’) enable a programme of local government mergers and reform and includes provisions to facilitate the voluntary early merger of two or more Principal Local Authorities by April 2018. The Act also amends existing legislative provision in the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (relating to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and the survey of councillors and unsuccessful candidates) and the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (relating to electoral reviews). This Act was re-named the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 by section 11(1) of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024.
The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.
Read the full Act:
Coming into force
Most provisions of the Act came into force on 26 November 2015, which is the day after the Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 46(2).
However, sections 25 to 28 and 37 to 43 came into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which this Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 46(1):
Subordinate legislation made under the Act
Any subordinate legislation made under the 2015 Act will be added when that subordinate legislation is made.
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The Bill was introduced on 26 January 2015 by Leighton Andrews AM, who was the Minister for Public Services at the time. It was passed by Senedd Cymru (then known as the National Assembly for Wales) on 20 October 2015.
More information about the Bill and it's passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.
The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised at Stage 2).
The Act received Royal Assent on 25 November 2015.