Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 (the 2013 Act) requires each principal council to monitor the communities and the electoral arrangements for those communities in its area.
These reviews help ensure the changing nature of each community, their populations and planned development are reflected so that each community has fair and equal democratic representation.
Under the 2013 Act, a council can either undertake a community review itself, or it can agree for the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (the Commission) to undertake the review on its behalf. Under the latter arrangement, the Commission is required to submit its report and recommendations to the Welsh Ministers for determination.
The Commission has completed a review on behalf of Ceredigion County Council. Having considered the Commission’s Final Recommendations Report (external link) together with the representations received, I have written to the Leader and Chief Executive of Ceredigion County Council to advise them of my decision to agree the recommendations contained within the Commission’s report with modifications. The modifications to be applied are:
- The Commission recommended the single community ward name of Llanddewi Aberarth. The community ward will be given the English-language name of Llanddewi Aberarth and the Welsh-language name of Llanddewi Aber-arth.
- The Commission recommended the single community and community ward name of Llandyfriog. The community and community ward will be given the English-language name of Llandyfriog and the Welsh-language name of Llandyfrïog.
Work will now be undertaken to progress the drafting of the Order required to implement this decision with the changes coming into force on 6 May 2027.
The preparations for the revised arrangements will require careful consideration and planning to ensure a smooth transition from the current structures to the new arrangements. I have encouraged the Council to begin discussions with the community councils in the County area as soon as possible.