Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013

35 Consultation and investigation

(1) In conducting a review under this Part, the Commission or, as the case may be, a principal council (“the reviewing body”) must—

(a) consult the mandatory consultees and such other persons as it considers appropriate, and

(b) conduct such investigations as it considers appropriate.

(2) After carrying out the consultation and investigations under subsection (1), the reviewing body must prepare a report containing—

(a) any proposals for change it considers appropriate or, if it does not consider any change appropriate, a proposal to that effect,

(b) details of the review it conducted.

(3) The reviewing body must—

(a) publish the report electronically,

(b) secure that the report is available for inspection (without charge) at the offices of any principal council with an interest in the review for the duration of the period for representations,

(c) send copies of the report to the Welsh Ministers and the mandatory consultees,

(d) inform any other person who submitted evidence to the reviewing body how to obtain a copy of the report, and

(e) invite representations and notify the persons mentioned in (c) and (d) of the period for representations.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (3), the “period for representations” is a period of not less than 6, nor more than 12, weeks (as determined by the reviewing body) beginning no earlier than one week after notice of the period is given.

(5) For the purposes of this section, a principal council has an interest in a review if—

(a) it is the reviewing body,

(b) its area is under review,

(c) a community in its area (or the electoral arrangements of such a community) is under review.

(6) In this section and section 36 a reference to a proposal for change is a reference to any change that the reviewing body may recommend or make (including consequential change) in relation to the type of review being conducted.