PART 7MERGERS AND RESTRUCTURING OF PRINCIPAL AREAS

CHAPTER 3FUNCTIONS RELATING TO MERGERS AND RESTRUCTURING

I1I2138Reviews of electoral arrangements

1

The Welsh Ministers may direct the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to conduct an initial review of electoral arrangements after the Welsh Ministers—

a

receive a merger application, or

I3b

give notice as described in section 129(6).

2

Before giving a direction under subsection (1) the Welsh Ministers must consult—

a

the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, and

b

such persons representing principal councils as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

I33

A direction under subsection (1) to conduct an initial review in relation to a proposal to transfer part of a principal area to be abolished to another principal area, or in relation to restructuring regulations which provide for such a transfer—

a

must specify the area (which may be all or part of a principal area) that is to be subject to the initial review, and

b

may specify that one or more matters of a kind described in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) are not to be considered in the initial review; and those matters are—

i

matters set out in the definition of “electoral arrangements” in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 1;

ii

matters set out in the definition of “relevant consequential changes” in that paragraph.

4

A direction under subsection (1) must specify the voting system in relation to which the electoral arrangements are to be reviewed.

5

Schedule 1 makes provision in relation to initial reviews conducted by virtue of this section.

6

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (3) of section 29 of the 2013 Act (periodic reviews of electoral arrangements for principal areas).