Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

127 Elections

(1) Merger regulations must set—

(a) the date of the first ordinary election of councillors to the principal council for the new principal area, and

(b) the terms of office of councillors returned at that election.

(2) Merger regulations may include provision—

(a) cancelling an ordinary election of councillors to one or more of the merging councils and extending the existing terms of office of councillors;

(b) cancelling an election of an elected mayor to one or more of the merging councils and extending the existing terms of office of elected mayors;

(c) relating to requirements to fill casual vacancies in the office of councillor, vice-chair or chair, and the holding of elections in any of the merging councils or the shadow council to fill casual vacancies;

(d) postponing an ordinary election of councillors to community councils in the new principal area and the extension of the existing terms of office of councillors.

(3) Merger regulations may also include provision about—

(a) the appointment of a returning officer at the first ordinary election of councillors to the principal council for the new principal area;

(b) meeting expenditure incurred in holding that election, including provision for the making of determinations by the Welsh Ministers about how expenditure is to be met;

(c) declarations of acceptance of the office of councillor of the new principal council;

(d) the holding of the first meeting of the new principal council.

(4) Provision made under subsection (3)(a) may include provision for the Welsh Ministers to give directions to a principal council as to the appointment of a returning officer, and for the enforcement of such directions.