61.Section 11 provides that the Welsh Ministers, on being notified that a principal council has made a resolution to change the voting system, may direct the Boundary Commission to conduct an initial review of the principal area of the council. Section 11 (and section 137) also introduces Schedule 1 to the Act, which makes provision for the conduct of an initial review by the Boundary Commission. An “initial review” is a review conducted for the purpose of recommending electoral arrangements for the area under review.
62.Schedule 1 provides for the conduct of initial reviews of electoral arrangements by the Boundary Commission in the circumstances where the Boundary Commission has been directed by the Welsh Ministers to undertake such reviews under:
section 11 of this Act, where the Welsh Ministers have received notice that a principal council has resolved to change its voting system; or
section 137 of this Act, where either the Welsh Ministers have received a voluntary merger application or the Welsh Ministers have given notice under section 128(6) that they propose to make regulations to restructure the principal councils specified in the notice.