138Reviews of electoral arrangements
(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).