A review of the structure of town and community councils across Bridgend county borough is set to start next month, after the local authority approved the terms of reference needed for the process to begin.
Ground rules have now been set up to outline the next stages of a Community Governance Review, which will discuss changes to the number of community councillors, as well as potential changes and mergers of council areas in the coming years.
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Changes could also be made to ward boundaries in the borough, as well as the number of wards and number of councillors elected in each of them. The report read: "At the conclusion of a community boundaries review under section 25 of the 2013 Act, the council may recommend changes to community boundaries it considers appropriate.
"The review will consider the need to create, abolish and/or amend the current town and community council areas. This includes the grouping or de-grouping of communities as well as the naming of each community. Where the councils are warded – split into areas for separate representation on the council – the review will look at the current boundaries of the wards, and whether these require alterations."
The last full Community Governance Review was carried out on Bridgend's 20 town and community councils in 2009 and would normally follow a 10-year cycle. While there is no fixed timeline for the latest review, the first stage is expected to begin in July with consultations with town and community councils, which are expected to be completed by October.
After publication and scrutiny from councillors and members of the public by May 2024, the next stage would see the council approve plans and send them to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales for further approval. With everything signed off by November 2024, it is expected the new arrangements would be approved and put in place for the local council elections scheduled for 2027.
