Review of Community Boundaries in the City and County of Swansea Draft Proposals
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES REVIEW OF COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SWANSEA DRAFT PROPOSALS LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES REVIEW OF PART OF COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SWANSEA DRAFT PROPOSALS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED PRIOR TO DRAFT PROPOSALS 4. ASSESSMENT 5. PROPOSALS 6. CONSEQUENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS 7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 8. RESPONSES TO THIS REPORT 9. THE NEXT STEPS The Local Government Boundary Commission For Wales Caradog House 1-6 St Andrews Place CARDIFF CF10 3BE Tel Number: (029) 2039 5031 Fax Number: (029) 2039 5250 E-mail: [email protected] www.lgbc-wales.gov.uk 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 We the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales (the Commission) have completed the first stage of the review of community boundaries in the City and County of Swansea as directed by the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government in his Direction to us dated 19 December 2007 (Appendix A). 1.2 The purpose of the review is to consider whether, in the interests of effective and convenient local government, the Commission should propose changes to the present community boundaries. The review is being conducted under the provisions of Section 56(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the Act). 1.3 Section 60 of the Act lays down procedural guidelines, which are to be followed in carrying out a review. In line with that guidance we wrote on 9 January 2008 to all of the Community Councils in the City and County of Swansea, the Member of Parliament for the local constituency, the Assembly Members for the area and other interested parties to inform them of our intention to conduct the review and to request their preliminary views. Prior to the start of the review Swansea City and County Council received a number of suggestions for community boundary changes. A list of these can be found at Appendix B. We also publicised our intention to conduct the review in local newspapers circulating in the area and asked the Councils to display public notices. Notification of the start of the review and the closing date for representations to be made (14 March 2008) was also given on our web site. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1 We propose that: · the boundary between the Communities of Llangyfelach and Pontlliw be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix E; · the boundary between the Communities of Llangyfelach and Mynyddbach be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix F; · the boundary between the Communities of Cockett and Townhill be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix G; · the boundary between the Communities of Cockett and Penderry be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the maps at Appendices H and I; · the boundary between the Communities of Landore and Morriston be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix J; · the boundary between the Communities of Bonymaen and Llansamlet be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix K; · the boundary between the Communities of Penllergaer and Llwchwr be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix L; · the boundary between the Communities of Birchgrove and Clydach be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix O; · the boundary between the Communities of Dunvant and Upper Killay be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix P; -1- · the boundary between the Communities of Clydach and Morriston be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix R; · the boundary between the Communities of Llangyfelach and Morriston be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix S; · the boundary between the Communities of Townhill and Castle be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix U; · the boundary between the Communities of Cwmbwrla and Penderry be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix V; · the boundary between the Communities of Gorseinon and Grovesend and Waungron be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix W; · the boundary between the Communities of Gorseinon and Llwchwr be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the maps at Appendix X; · the boundary between the Communities of Gorseinon and Llwchwr be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the maps at Appendix AB; and · the boundary between the Communities of Gorseinon and Penllergaer be realigned to follow the green line as shown on the map at Appendix AC. In addition we have considered, but at this stage make no recommendations for, the following suggestions: · the separation of the Three Crosses ward from the Community of Llanrhidian Higher (map at Appendix C); · the boundary between the Llanmorlais and Penclawdd wards of the Community of Llanrhidian Higher (map at Appendix D); · the boundary between the Communities of Penllergaer and Llangyfelach (map at Appendix M); · the transfer of Dunvant Rugby Club from the Community of Upper Killay into the Community of Dunvant (map at Appendix Q); · the division of the Community of Townhill to form two community areas (map at Appendix T); and · the boundary between the Communities of Gorseinon and Llwchwr (map at Appendix Z). 3. REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE DRAFT PROPOSALS 3.1 We received representations from Swansea City and County Council; Clydach Community Council; Mawr Community Council; Gorseinon Town Council; Gowerton Community Council; Ilston Community Council; Killay Community Council; Llangyfelach Community Council; Llanrhidian Higher Community Council; Llwchwr Town Council; Penllergaer Community Council, Pontlliw and Tircoed Community Council; Rhossili Community Council; Upper Killay Community Council; 2 councillors; The Penllergare Trust and The Independents @ Swansea. We considered all of these representations carefully before we formulated our proposals. Details of all of these representations can be found at Appendix B. -2- 4. ASSESSMENT 4.1 We have considered suggested changes to community and community ward boundaries in the following areas: Birchgrove, Bonymaen, Castle, Clydach, Cockett, Cwmbwrla, Dunvant, Gorseinon, Grovesend and Waungron, Killay, Landore, Llanrhidian Higher, Llangyfelach, Llansamlet, Llwchwr, Mawr, Morriston, Mynyddbach, Penderry, Penllergaer, Pontardulais, Pontlliw and Tircoed, Townhill and Upper Killay. Killay 4.2 Killay Community Council considered that their existing three Wards of North, South and West should be replaced with two Wards named North and South to mirror the County Electoral divisions for the Community. Whilst there appears to us to be merit in reviewing the electoral arrangements of the community we are unable to do so as part of this review. This review is being carried out under Section 54 of the Act which allows us to make proposals for the electoral arrangements of a community that are consequential on a change to the community boundary. We have received no suggestions for a change to the boundary of the Killay Community that impacts on the electoral arrangements and we therefore make no proposals for changes to the electoral arrangements for the Community of Killay. A review of community electoral arrangements may be carried out by the principal council of the area under Section 57(4) of the Act and we recommend that Swansea City and County Council consider undertaking such a review. Pontardulais 4.3 We noted that Pontardulais Community Council had submitted a proposal to the City and County of Swansea Council in 2006 that the whole of Glynllwchwr Road and Coedbach be transferred into the Dulais West Ward and that Upper Mill, which is currently divided between three community wards, should be included wholly within the boundary of the same community ward. Pontardulais Community Council discussed these suggested changes further at a meeting with Commission staff held at the Council’s offices. Whilst there appears to us to be merit in reviewing the electoral arrangements of the community we are unable to do so as part of this review for the reasons given at paragraph 4.2 above. A review of community electoral arrangements may be carried out by the principal council of the area under Section 57(4) of the Act and we recommend that Swansea City and County Council consider undertaking such a review. Llanrhidian Higher - Three Crosses Ward 4.4 Three Crosses is a ward of the Community of Llanrhidian Higher. Llanrhidian Higher Community Council considers that the Three Crosses ward should form a separate community with its own community council. Swansea City and County Council suggest either a separate community council or transferring Three Crosses as a ward to the Community of Upper Killay. The warding arrangements of the Community of Llanrhidian Higher together with adjoining communities can be seen on the map at Appendix C. -3- 4.5 We noted that the Three Crosses ward has 1,200 electors and that there appears to be a clear distinction between Three Crosses and other settlements in the area. We consider therefore that the Three Crosses ward could form a viable separate community. Before making such a recommendation however we would wish to have an indication that the proposal to form a separate community with its own community council is supported by the electorate. We welcome further views on this matter. 4.6 Swansea City and County Council have also suggested, as an alternative, that the Three Crosses Ward could be transferred to the Community of Upper Killay. We have examined this suggestion but it appeared to us that, in terms of topography and community of interest, Three Crosses has more of an affinity with the Community of Ilston than the Community of Upper Killay.