LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES REVIEW OF COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES IN THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF RHONDDA CYNON TAFF REPORT AND PROPOSALS LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES REVIEW OF COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES IN THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF RHONDDA CYNON TAFF REPORT AND PROPOSALS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. SCOPE AND OBJECT OF THE REVIEW 4. DRAFT PROPOSALS 5. REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT PROPOSALS 6. ASSESSMENT 7. PROPOSALS 8. CONSEQUENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS 9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10. 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 Brian Gibbons AM Minister for Social Justice and Local Government Welsh Assembly Government 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 We the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales (the Commission) have completed the review of community boundaries in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff as directed by the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services in her Direction to us dated 20 September 2006 (Appendix A). 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1 We propose that: S the boundary between the Communities of Pont-y-clun and the Communities of Llanharan and Llantrisant be realigned to follow the boundary shown in green on the map at Appendix D; S the boundary between the Communities of Llanharry and the Community of Pont-y-clun be realigned to follow the boundary shown in green on the map at Appendices E and G. 3. SCOPE AND OBJECT OF THE REVIEW 3.1 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). Procedure 3.2 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 4 January 2007 to The Community Councils of Llanharry, Llanharan, Pont-y-clun, Llantrisant, Hirwaun, and Rhigos (the Pen-y-waun community does not have a community council), 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 the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council provided a number of suggestions for community boundary changes. A list of these was enclosed with this initial letter (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 (8 March 2007) was given on the web sites of both the Commission and the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. - 1 - 4. DRAFT PROPOSALS 4.1 In response to our initial invitation, we received representations from Llanharry Community Council, Llanharan Community Council, Pont-y-clun Community Council, Llantrisant Community Council, Hirwaun Community Council and Rhigos Community Council, and a number of residents. In our Draft Proposals published on 23 August 2008, we considered the issues raised in the representations. 4.2 Suggested changes to community boundaries were made in the following areas: Llanharan, Llanharry, Llantrisant, Pont-y-clun, Hirwaun and Pen-y-waun. Pont-y-clun / Llanharan / Llantrisant 4.3 Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council suggested that Ynysddu (from the Llanharan ward of Llanharan Community) and Pant y Dderwen (from the Talbot Green ward of Llantrisant Community) be brought within the area of Pontyclun Community. In our Draft Proposals report we noted the survey carried out by Llanharan Community Council of all 270 houses in Ynysddu whereby 83 % of returned surveys supported a move into Pontyclun. 4.4 We considered that both the Ynysddu and Pant y Dderwen areas appear to have more of a community of interest with Pont-y-clun than with either Llanharan and Llantrisant respectively. We determined that the suggested boundary followed clearly defined geographical features. We were of the view that the suggested changes would be in the interests of effective and convenient local government and therefore proposed a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y- clun and the Community of Llanharan and a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llantrisant. Llanharry / Pont-y-clun 4.5 In our Draft Proposals report we noted Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council’s suggestion that Clos Brenin be transferred from the Tyle-garw ward of the Community of Llanharry to the Community of Pont-y-clun. We also noted that we did not receive any representations in respect of this suggestion. 4.6 We noted that the only access to Clos Brenin was via Pont-y-clun Community and that Clos Brenin appeared to have more of a community of interest with the Community of Pont-y-clun than with the Community of Llanharry. We were of the view that the suggested changes would be in the interests of effective and convenient local government and therefore proposed a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llanharry. 4.7 In our report we also considered Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council’s suggestion that Elms Farm and a section of the adjacent housing estate be transferred from the Brynsadler ward of the Community of Pont-y-clun to the Community of Llanharry. Following a site visit to the area we considered that Elms Farm and the adjacent housing estate appeared to have more of an affinity with the Community of Pont-y-clun than with the Community of Llanharry. We noted that the housing estate was split between the two Communities and that some of the - 2 - houses appeared to be straddling the existing boundary. We also noted that the suggested boundary follows clearly defined geographical features. We were of the view that the suggested changes would be in the interests of effective and convenient local government and therefore proposed a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llanharry. 4.8 In our report we noted however that the proposed change to the boundary between Llanharry and Pont-y-clun in the area of Elms Farm would leave a small area of housing at Castell-y-mwnws at the edge of the Community of Pont-y-clun. We welcomed views on the appropriateness of extending the proposed boundary so as to also include this area within the Community of Llanharry. Hirwaun / Pen-y-waun 4.9 In our Draft Proposals report we considered Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council’s suggestion that Trenant, part of Hirwaun Road, Montana Park and Trewaun be transferred from the Community of Pen-y-waun to the Community of Hirwaun. We also considered the suggestion made by Hirwaun Community Council to revert to the original boundary which was the natural watercourse dividing Pen-y- waun and Hirwaun communities. From the information we were given it was not clear where the boundary suggested by Hirwaun Community Council would lie. We noted that the existing boundary between Pen-y-waun and Hirwaun was defined by the Cynon Valley (Communities) Order 1981. It was this order that created the communities of Pen-y-waun and Hirwaun. Previously there had been the communities of Penderyn and Aberdare that were divided along the line of the Afon Cynon. We noted that there is a stream running alongside the Trenant estate which may be the watercourse indicated by the Council. We considered that this stream may provide an alternative course for part of the boundary suggested by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. We welcomed views on this matter. 4.10 In considering our Draft Proposals and following a site visit, we noted that the areas in question appeared to have an affinity with both Hirwaun and Pen-y-waun. We also noted that the boundary suggested by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council followed clearly defined geographical features. We also noted Hirwaun Community Council’s concerns regarding the Communities First area status of Pen- y-waun and the effect that the transfer of approximately 200 dwellings would have on both communities. As we understood it the change to the boundary would not affect Pen-y-waun’s status as a Communities First area. The Community of Pen-y- waun does not have a community council so a concern about loss of precept did not apply. The change to the boundary would mean that Hirwaun Community Council would have to provide their services to a larger area but this would be offset by the increase in their precept. At Draft Proposals stage we were of the view that the suggested change to the boundary between the Communities of Pen-y- waun and Hirwaun was likely to be of benefit in terms of effective and convenient local government and we therefore proposed a change to the boundary. - 3 - 5. REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT PROPOSALS 5.1 In response to our Draft Proposals report we received representations from Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, Hirwaun, Llanharan, Llanharry and Pont-y-clun Community Councils and two residents. A summary of these representations can be found at Appendix C. 6. ASSESSMENT Pont-y-clun / Llanharan / Llantrisant 6.1 In our Draft Proposals report we proposed a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llanharan and a change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llantrisant as initially suggested by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.