The Local Election Survey (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Local Election Survey (Wales) Regulations 2012 (“the 2012 Regulations”).

Section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (“the Measure”) imposes a duty on a local authority (a county council or county borough council), to conduct a survey by asking prescribed questions of councillors and candidates who have stood for election as councillors to the council of the county or county borough or to a community council in the local authority’s area. Section 1 was amended by the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”) and provides that the survey must be conducted before or after each ordinary election, and removes the requirement for local authorities to arrange for information to be provided anonymously.

The 2012 Regulations prescribe the questions that must be asked. Regulations 3 and 4 amend the 2012 Regulations and insert a new survey into the 2012 Regulations. The amended survey is similar to the survey in the 2012 Regulations, with the addition of unique identifying questions which can be used to establish whether a survey respondent was elected as a councillor. The amendments will also require different questions to be asked depending on whether the survey is being conducted before or after an ordinary election.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained at Democracy, Diversity and Remuneration Team, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.