Agenda item

It was clarified that Members could speak to each recommendation as they would be considered individually by Council.

The Leader presented the report outlining the process undertaken by the Council to establish a Cross Party Group to review the evidence and the formulation of proposals for future electoral arrangements in the city, for debate by Council.

The Leader thanked all group representatives and the supporting Officers for their contributions within a challenging timeframe. The Leader also thanked the Commission for their support during the process and for agreeing for the short extension to enable the Council to debate the options at this meeting.

Recommendation 1:

It was resolved that the Council support the minor amendments to boundaries set out in the Minor Anomalies section of this report.

Recommendation 2:

Option 2a was moved and seconded.

Councillors Kellaway spoke against option A as he felt it ignored the community differences of the areas affected that would result in the demise of the Llanwern area. It also did not take into consideration the natural typography and roads within the wards.

Councillor Mogford spoke in support of Option B – to move Bishton Community Council area, comprising Bishton and Underwood Community Wards, into Langstone.  He felt that Bishton Community area would fit well within the semi-rural ward of Langstone and that there was a strong synergy of Communities within this option. 

It was resolved that the Council support option 2a – Move Llanwern Community into Ringland.

Recommendation 3:

Option 3a was moved and seconded.

Councillor C Evans spoke against option 3a, citing the practical implications of dividing the community in this way. He spoke in favour of the status quo in Rogerstone as he felt the division was unnecessary.

Councillor M Evans spoke in support of option 3a, as it addressed the under-representation of Rogerstone in the most practical way within the options available, and provided 2 wards of 2 councillors each, rather than creating single member wards.

It was resolved that the Council support option 3a – Create two new wards of Rogerstone West Community Ward (2 Councillors) and combining Rogerstone North and East community wards. (2 Councillors)

Recommendation 4

Option 4a was moved and seconded.

Councillor M Evans spoke against option 4a. citing the discussion supported at the Democratic Services Committee that the Mon Bank area of Pillqwenlly was closer in proximity to Stow Hill which made Option 4b a more practical option.

Councillor Fouweather spoke on the recommendation, noting that it was a difficult choice with no clear solution. He noted that Option 4b would be splitting a community, whilst option 4b (moving the new estate of Mon Bank to Stow Hill) was potentially more practical as it was moving a community in its entirety.

It was resolved that the Council support option 4a: Add the “Riverside” area of Pillgwenlly to Stow Hill.

Recommendation 5

Option 5b was moved and seconded.

Councillor R White spoke against option 5b, as he felt it broke the local community ties of St Brides and Peterstone that together form the Wentlooge Community Council area.  The proposal would also not have clear boundaries and would not be effective or convenient for Community Council to operate effectively over two city council electoral wards should it go ahead.  The Councillor spoke in favour of option 5a.

Councillor T Suller also spoke in favour of option 5a.

It was resolved that the Council support Option 5b: add St Brides and CoedKernew Wards to Tredegar Park.

Recommendation 6 and 7

Options 6a and 7a were moved and seconded.

Cllr D Davies spoke in support of recommendation 6a, noting the geographical divisions of the Beechwood ward into 4 distinct areas. It was noted that the Beechwood ward contained distinct communities which each had their own identities. Should the Councillor numbers be reduced to two, it would be untenable and difficult to manage.

Councillor M Evans spoke against increasing the overall size of the Council by one, and spoke in support of the Boundary recommendation to reduce by one Councillor to a total of 49.

Councillor K Whitehead spoke against any reductions, suggesting that the changes were unnecessary and the calculations did not properly take into account those adults who were not on the electoral register and therefore were not able to be counted in the modelling.

It was resolved that the Council support option 6a: Retain three Councillors in Beechwood, and option 7 a: Retain three Councillors in Bettws resulting in a Council size of 51.

Recommendation 8

Cllr C Evans queried why this ward was not being split in the same way that Rogerstone had been in Recommendation 3.  The Head of Law and Regulation explained that the Boundary Commission would not accept any new 4 member wards, however where the Council had existing 4 Member wards that were within the parameters in terms of their representation, as was the case for Lliswerry.

It was resolved to support the proposal to retain four representatives in Lliswerry, and retire the old spelling of Liswerry in favour of using Lliswerry as the English form.