Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013

Duties of a principal council

22 Duties of principal councils in relation to area

(1) A principal council must, for the purpose of considering whether it is appropriate to make or recommend changes under this Part, monitor—

(a) the communities in its area, and

(b) the electoral arrangements of such communities.

(2) In pursuance of that duty, a principal council must—

(a) have regard to the Commission’s timetable for conducting the reviews of principal areas’ electoral arrangements required by section 29(1), and

(b) carry out such reviews under this Part as are required under this or any other enactment, as may be directed by the Welsh Ministers, or as it otherwise considers appropriate.

(3) In carrying out its duties under this Part (and in conducting any review), a principal council must seek to ensure effective and convenient local government.

(4) A principal council must provide the Commission with such information as it may reasonably require in connection with the exercise of its functions under this Part.

(5) A principal council must, in respect of each reporting period, publish a report describing how it has discharged its duty under subsection (1) and send a copy of the report to the Commission.

(6) In this section, “reporting period” means—

(a) the period of 10 years beginning with—

(i) the date on which the principal council last published a report under section 55(2A) or, if earlier, section 57(4A) of the 1972 Act, or

(ii) in the case of a principal council which has not published such a report before coming into force this section, the day on which this section comes into force, and

(b) each subsequent period of 10 years.