FINAL PROPOSALS

Community No. M36 - LLANSILIN

Introduction

1. The present community of Llansilin is the most northerly community in the county of Powys. The community takes up the broad valley of the river Cynllaith and its main tributaries the nant Moelfre and the afon Ogau. Much of the landscape of the community comprises the hill and valley landscape of the border country (the community's eastern boundary is also the county and national boundary). However, the topography of the community rises to the west; Gyrn Moelfre is its highest summit at 523 metres, and the high points at Pen y gwely, Foel Wylfa and Hen Graig define its north-western boundary, which is also the county boundary. Settlement is scattered across the community, but exits to the B4580 Llanrhaeadr to Oswestry county road. It is to the latter town that this community looks for most of its primary services. Llansilin is defined as a large village with a range of community services and facilities in the Powys Unitary Development Plan, and Canol, Rhydycroesau, Rhiwlas and Moelfre are defined as rural settlements.

2. The community has a population of 648, an electorate of 502 (2005) and a council of 9 members. The precept required for 2005 is £1,500, representing a Council Tax Band D equivalent of £4.82.

3. In the 1984 Review the initial proposals of the Local Government Boundary Commission for were to amalgamate the then communities of Llansilin and Llangedwyn into a warded community. These proposals met with the strong opposition of the residents of Llangedwyn. The Commission's final proposals were, therefore, for a separate community of Llansilin with a council of nine members in an unwarded community. The area of the community was reduced, with transfers in the and at Cefn Hir-fynydd to the proposed community of Ceiriog Ucha in the district of Glyndwr and the county of , and with the transfer of the south of the then community, from Craig Fawr through Sycharth to Penybont Llannerchemrys, to the proposed community of Llangedwyn.

Summary of representations received prior to preparation of Draft Proposals

4. No representations have been received for this community.

Assessment

5. The electorate of Llansilin has increased from about 450 in 1979 to 502 in 2005. The Powys Unitary Development Plan allocates two sites for 24 dwellings in the large village of Llansilin. There may be further opportunities

for infill development and opportunities for affordable housing development adjacent to the settlement development boundaries. There are also opportunities for

Final Proposals – Montgomeryshire – Community M$p2gzzaur.doc affordable housing development in the rural settlements of Cefn Canol, Rhydycroesau, Rhiwlas and Moelfre that lie in this community in accordance with Policy HP9 of the Plan, for a limited number of dwellings in the open countryside in accordance with Policy HP6 of the Plan, and for conversions in accordance with Policy GP6 of the Plan. We note that this community's electorate will rise slightly, therefore, to about 540 electors, suggesting an entitlement in accordance with Table 7 - Guide to Allocation of Councillors to Community Councils to eight councillors. We note also that it would be difficult to make a case for an increase in the allocation of councillors in this instance; this is not an extensive rural community compared to many others in eastern Montgomeryshire where representation might be required to meet the challenges of population sparsity, and the electorate of this community falls and will continue to fall well short of the level at which we consider that there should be an entitlement to nine councillors.

Draft Proposals

6. That there should be a community of Llansilin comprising the present community of that name;

The community should have a council of 8 members.

(Ward) Electorate No of Councillors Electors per Councillor

502 8 63

Responses to the Council’s Draft Proposals

7. No comments or submissions were received on the Draft Proposals.

Final Proposals

8. That there should be a community of Llansilin comprising the present community of that name;

The community should have a council of 8 members.

(Ward) Electorate No of Councillors Electors per Councillor

502 8 63

Final Proposals – Montgomeryshire – Community M$p2gzzaur.doc