Move to give councillors an extra year in office
COUNCIL elections in Wales have been pushed back a year, officials have announced.
They were expected to take place in May 2021 - but will now take place in May 2022.
The change has been made so council elections do not clash with National Assembly and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
Currently, council elections take place every four years on the first Thursday in May.
However, in a written statement, minister Julie James said the Welsh Government plans to bring forward legislation which will permanently mean councillors serve five years, not four.
The last council elections were held on May 4, 2017.
“The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill is intended to be introduced in the autumn to provide for this”,” Ms James’ statement said.
“At the present time, the ordinary local government elections in Wales take place on the first Thursday in May every four years. The next elections are scheduled for May 2021. This is also the date for the next elections to the National Assembly for Wales.”
The Wales Act 2017 amended the Representation of the People Act 1983. It prevents local government elections from being held on the same day as the ordinary elections to the National Assembly. In such situations the Welsh Ministers are required to change the year of the local government elections by order.
The statement added: “The Local Authorities (Change to the Year of Ordinary Elections (Wales) Order 2019 does not change the cycle of local government elections. It will only move the next ordinary local government elections by one year from May 2021 to May 2022.”
Councillors receive a basic salary of £13,868 and leaders, deputy leaders and cabinet members receive extra renumeration.
There are 22 councils in Wales and a census in 2014 found there were 1,264 councillors in Wales.