Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
BLAENAU GWENT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
The Chair and Members of the Report to Democratic Services Committee
The 2018 Review of Parliamentary Report Subject Constituencies in Wales – Revised Proposals Andrea Jones Report Author Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance
Report date 24th October 2017
Directorate Resources
Executive Portfolio Corporate Services
Date of meeting 7TH November 2017
Date signed off by N/A Monitoring Officer
Date signed off by N/A Section 151 Officer
th Date signed off by Chair 26 October 2017
The Boundary Commission Key words Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales Revised Proposals Consultation until 11 th December 2017.
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
Report Information Summary
1. Purpose of Report 1.1 To consider the revised proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales in respect of a Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales for 2018. The representation period for the revised proposals will end on 11 th December 2017.
1.2 The report sets out the details of the revised Blaenau Gwent Parliamentary Constituency.
2. Scope of the Report 2.1 New legislation governing how parliamentary constituencies will be defined has been passed by Parliament. The legislation is the most significant change to Wales’ constituencies in a century. The Boundary Commission for Wales are responsible for carrying out this review in Wales which has to be completed by 1st October 2018.
2.2 The report sets out the revised proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the Blaenau Gwent constituency and the procedure for making representations by 11 th December 2017. The initial consultation period, which included Public Hearings, has ended and all of the representations have been considered.
2.3. The recommendation for a revised Blaenau Gwent constituency, which will include Argoed, Crumlin, Pengam, Penmaen and Newbridge, remains the same as the initial proposal. The Commission received few representations with regard to the initial proposal for Blaenau Gwent.
3. Contribution to the National Well-Being Goals – Detail attached as Appendix 1 3.1 A resilient Wales. Support citizens to take an active role and emplowered role in their communities to provide resilience
4. Recommendation(s) / Endorsement by other groups, e.g. CLT/Committees/Other groups 4.1 The revised proposals have been endorsed by the Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent and political groups.
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
5. Recommendation/s for Consideration 5.1 It is recommended that the Democratic Services Committee consider the report.
Why this topic is a priority for the Council? Single Council’s Performance Transforming Relevant Other Integrated Well-being Management Blaenau Gwent legislation (please state) Plan (SIP) Objectives Improvement (TBG Framework (PMIF) Programme) The Parliamentary Consultation Constituencies Act 1986 as revised by The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011. Reporting Pathway Directorate Corporate Audit Democratic Scrutiny Executive Council Other Management Leadership Services (please Team (DMT) Team (CLT) Committee state)
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Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
Main Report
1. Background and Context 1.1 The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 as amended by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 established a UK electoral quota and reduction in the number of parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom from 650 to 600. In Wales parliamentary constituencies will be reduced from 40 to 29.
1.2 The Act specifies that all constituencies should have approximately similar electorates based on an electoral quote of 75,664 with the exception of the Isle of Wight in England and two constituencies on islands in Scotland. All constituencies, therefore, will be required to have electorates between 71,031 and 78,507. Blaenau Gwent’s Parliamentary electorate at the commencement of this review was 48,346.
1.3 In considering new constituencies in Wales, The Boundary Commission for Wales has used electoral divisions as the building blocks for designing constituencies. However, because of the required reduction in the number of constituencies, and to conform to the electoral quota, it was necessary to cross unitary authority boundaries.
1.4 As far as possible, the Boundary Commission seeks to create constituencies
• from electoral divisions which are adjacent to each other, and not to split an electoral division;
• from whole communities; and
• that do not contain ‘detached parts’ where the only physical connection between one part of the constituency and the remainder would require travel through a different constituency.
1.5 The Act states that the Commission must submit a periodical report on a general review of all the constituencies in Wales by 1st October 2018 and 1st October every five years after that date. For many areas the proposed changes are considerable. The proposals only relate to parliamentary constituencies and do
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
not affect National Assembly, unitary authority electoral divisions and community boundaries.
1.6 On 24 th March 2017 the Boundary Commission for Wales published its initial proposals for Parliamentary constituencies in Wales. The Commission received hundreds of written representations on the initial proposals and Public Hearings were held across Wales. As a result the Commission have revised their initial proposals.
1.7 The Commission however received few representations with regard to the initial proposal for Blaenau Gwent. There was agreement among the political parties making representations and the Member of Parliamentary for Blaenau Gwent that the proposal was acceptable. A representation from a Community Council in the Caerphilly constituency offered an alternative suggestion for the existing constituencies of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney which was supported by the Member of Parliamentary for Islwyn constituency. The Commission considered this representation but decided that the alternative suggestion splits principal council areas and breaks local ties.
With regard to this second consultation period, reports and maps 1.8 have been deposited at The General Office and public libraries. Representations can be made online on the Commission’s Consultation Portal www.bcw2018.org.uk , via email to [email protected] or by post. There are no public hearings, and respondents are encouraged to submit new submissions only, rather than repeating representations made during the first consultation period.
2. Performance Evidence and Information 2.1 The revised proposal of The Boundary Commission for Wales for Blaenau Gwent is as follows: (See Appendix A)
2.2 It is proposed that a county constituency is created from:
(1) The existing Blaenau Gwent constituency as a whole (49,661 electors) plus
(2) The electoral wards within the existing Islwyn Parliamentary
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
Constituency of Argoed (1,910 electors), Blackwood (5,947 electors), Cefn Fforest (2,765 electors), Crumlin (4,195 electors ), Newbridge (4,611), Pengam (2,571 electors) and Penmaen (4,004 electors)
The constituency would then consist of 75,664 electors which is 1.2% above the electoral quota of 74,769.
3. Risk Implications 3.1 If the Boundary Commission does not receive any representations about its revised proposal it is likely to be agreed without others having any say in shaping the future constituency 4. Financial Implications 4.1 There are no direct financial implications. The review of parliamentary constituencies does not affect services or taxes.
5. Staffing/Workforce Development Implications 5.1 There will be some staffing implications with regards to the conduct of parliamentary elections in the future in administering parliamentary elections in a larger area, or if a parliamentary election is combined with another election where the boundaries are not coterminous 6. Options for Consideration 6.1 The revised proposal of The Boundary Commission for Wales for Blaenau Gwent is as follows: (See Appendix A)
It is proposed that a county constituency is created from:
(1) The existing Blaenau Gwent constituency as a whole plus
(2) The electoral wards within the existing Islwyn Parliamentary Constituency of Argoed (1,910), Blackwood (5,947), Cefn Fforest (2,765), Crumlin (4,195), Newbridge (4,611), Pengam (2,571) and Penmaen (4,004)
6.2 The constituency would have 75,664 electors which is 1.2% above the electoral quota of 74,769.
6.3 The suggested name for the proposed new constituency is Blaenau Gwent. As Blaenau Gwent is a name used in both the Welsh and English languages there is no other suggested official alternative name for this proposed constituency.
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
6.4 The existing Blaenau Gwent constituency does not meet the statutory requirements in respect of the size of electorate. It is therefore necessary to include in the proposed new constituency a significant number of additional electors from the surrounding constituencies. The northern electoral wards of the existing Islwyn constituency are connected to Blaenau Gwent via the A467 and A4048 and are a natural continuation of the valleys in their area. The Commission considers that these wards would provide a natural link to the existing constituency of Blaenau Gwent and are more appropriate than linking with areas to the north in Powys, east in Monmouthshire, or west across the valleys.
6.5 There are no alternative options being suggested which will meet the criteria of this review.
7. Impact Assessment Against Proposals / Options 7.1 • Involvement The importance of involving members, officers and consulting with the public to ensure they have an opportunity to shape the future of the parliamentary constituencies.
7.2 Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)
N/A
8. Conclusion 8.1 To meet the criteria of this legislation and the electoral quota of 75,664, the existing Blaenau Gwent constituency will have to encompass more than one valley or be split into two other parliamentary constituencies.
With regard to this revised proposal the constituency is remaining as a whole within a new proposed constituency and is largely retaining the identity and the name of Blaenau Gwent.
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
Appendix 1 Assess how well your project / activity will result in multiple benefits for our communities and contribute to the national well being goals.
Description of the Well -being goals How will your project / activity deliver benefits Is there anyway to maximise the benefits or to our communities under the national well- minimise any negative impacts to our being goals? communities (and the contribution to the national well-being goals)? A prosperous Wales An innovative, productive and low carbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change); and which develops a skilled and well educated population in an economy which generates wealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing decent work. A resilient Wales A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, Support citizens to take an active role and economic and ecological resilience and the emplowered role in their communities to provide capacity to adapt to change (for example climate resilience. change).
A healthier Wales A society in which people’s physical and mental well being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood.
Report Date: 24 th October 2017 Report Author: Angela O’Leary
Description of the Well -being goals How will your project / activity deliver benefits Is there anyway to maximise the benefits or to our communities under the national well- minimise any negative impacts to our being goals? communities (and the contribution to the national well-being goals)? A more equal Wales A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances (including their socio economic background and circumstances).
A Wales of cohesive communities Attractive, viable, safe and well connected communities. The review is to form a new Parliamentary constituency of communities by using electoral divisions as building blocks.
A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, and sports and recreation.
A globally responsible Wales A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well being.