PART 7

MERGERS AND RESTRUCTURING OF PRINCIPAL AREAS
CHAPTER 3

FUNCTIONS RELATING TO MERGERS AND RESTRUCTURING

Reviews of electoral arrangements
138
1
The Welsh Ministers may direct the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to conduct an initial review of electoral arrangements after the Welsh Ministers—
a
receive a merger application, or
b
give notice as described in section 129(6).
2
Before giving a direction under subsection (1) the Welsh Ministers must consult—
a
the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, and
b
such persons representing principal councils as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.
3
A direction under subsection (1) to conduct an initial review in relation to a proposal to transfer part of a principal area to be abolished to another principal area, or in relation to restructuring regulations which provide for such a transfer—
a
must specify the area (which may be all or part of a principal area) that is to be subject to the initial review, and
b
may specify that one or more matters of a kind described in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) are not to be considered in the initial review; and those matters are—
i
matters set out in the definition of “electoral arrangements” in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 1;
ii
matters set out in the definition of “relevant consequential changes” in that paragraph.
4
A direction under subsection (1) must specify the voting system in relation to which the electoral arrangements are to be reviewed.
5
Schedule 1 makes provision in relation to initial reviews conducted by virtue of this section.
6
The Welsh Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (3) of section 29 of the 2013 Act (periodic reviews of electoral arrangements for principal areas).