RCT Council wards could of councillors would stay
THE number of electoral wards could be cut but the number of councillors on Rhondda Cynon Taf Council would stay the same under new proposals.
The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales is reviewing the electoral arrangements of all 22 councils so that any proposed changes can come into force in time for the 2022 local elections.
In its draft proposals, the commission is proposing that the number of councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taff be kept the same, at 75, which is one councillor for every 2,302 eligible voters.
Currently the ratios range from 1,399 eligible voters per councillor to 4,790 eligible voters to elector.
But its recommendations are that the number of wards be cut from 52 to 45 in a move which the commission says will result in a “significant improvement” to electoral parity in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
This would mean that the most under-represented areas in terms of the ratio of councillors to electors would be Taff’s Well and Treorchy, while currently it is Tonyrefail West.
The proposals would make Ynysybwl the most over-represented area, while the current most over-represented area is Rhigos.
The commission is proposing 26 multi-member wards in the county, including 22 two-member electoral wards and four three-member electoral wards, with no changes to 18 electoral wards.
There would also be one ward which combines part of a warded community along with its neighbouring community.
The commission says it has considered responses from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, town and community councils, MPs, AMs, political party groups and residents in drawing up its proposals.