The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements the recommendations of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (“the Commission”), which reported in March 2020 on its review of the electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Commission’s Report proposed a reduction in the number of electoral wards from 52 to 46, but recommended the number of councillors to remain at 75.

This Order implements the Commission’s recommendations, with modifications.

Article 3 of this Order abolishes the existing electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf and introduces the Schedule, which sets out the new electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

This Order also implements recommendations for changes to community boundaries and electoral arrangements for some communities within the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Article 4 makes changes to the boundary between the community wards of Ton-teg and Church Village within the community of Llantwit Fardre. Article 5 sets out the number of members to be elected for the Church Village ward.

Article 6 abolishes the community wards within the community of Pont-y-clun, and article 7 creates the new community wards of Pontyclun East, Pontyclun Central and Pontyclun West. Article 8 sets out the number of members to be elected for these wards.

Article 9 makes changes to the boundaries of the communities of Ystrad, Llwyn-y-pia and Trealaw.

Article 10 provides for the transfer of an area from the community of Pontypridd Town to the community of Trehafod.

Article 11 abolishes the community wards of Hawthorn, Ilan, Rhydfelen Central and Rhydfelen Lower within the community of Pontypridd Town. Article 12 creates the new community wards of Rhydfelen Central, Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen, and Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf. Article 13 sets out the number of members to be elected for these new wards, and makes changes to the number of members to be elected in the Rhondda and Treforest wards.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.

Prints of the maps labelled “1” to “9” to which this Order relates are deposited in the office of the Welsh Government at Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ (Local Government Democracy Division), and with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Prints deposited with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council are open to inspection by anyone affected by the provisions of this Order.