The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 1080 (W. 255)

Local Government, Wales

The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021

Made

22 September 2021

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales(1) has, in accordance with section 36(5) of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013(2) (“the 2013 Act”), submitted to the Welsh Ministers a report dated March 2020 containing its recommendations for change and the details of its review of the electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Welsh Ministers have, after consideration of the matters referred to and set out in sections 37(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the 2013 Act, decided to give effect to those recommendations with modifications.

In accordance with section 37(3) of the 2013 Act, more than 6 weeks have elapsed since those recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers make the following Order in exercise of their powers conferred by section 37(1) of 2013 Act.

Title and commencement

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021.

(2) For any purpose set out in regulation 4(1) of the Regulations, this Order comes into force on 1 October 2021.

(3) For all other purposes, this Order comes into force on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2022(3).

Interpretation

2.  In this Order—

“electoral ward” (“ward etholiadol”) means any area for which members are elected to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council;

“the Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau”) means the Local Government Area Changes Regulations 1976(4);

any reference to a map means one of the 9 maps marked “Map of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021” deposited in accordance with regulation 5 of the Regulations, labelled “1” to “9”, and a reference to a numbered map is a reference to the map that bears that number;

where a boundary is shown on a map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature;

words and expressions used in this Order have the same meaning as they have in Part 3 of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013, except so far as a contrary intention appears.

Electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf

3.—(1) The electoral wards of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, as they exist immediately before the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2022, are abolished.

(2) The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf is divided into 46 electoral wards each bearing the English language name listed in column 1 and the Welsh language name listed in column 2 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.

(3) Each electoral ward comprises the areas specified in relation to that electoral ward in column 3 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.

(4) The number of members of the council to be elected for each electoral ward is the number specified in column 4 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.

(5) The provisions in this Order take precedence over any conflicting provision in any previous statutory instrument made under section 58(2) of the Local Government Act 1972(5).

The community of Llantwit Fardre: changes to community ward boundaries

4.  The part of the Ton-teg ward of the community of Llantwit Fardre shown hatched on Map 1 is transferred to the Church Village ward of the community of Llantwit Fardre.

The community of Llantwit Fardre: consequential changes to electoral arrangements

5.  The number of members to be elected for the Church Village ward of the community of Llantwit Fardre is 5.

The community of Pont-y-clun: abolition and creation of community wards

6.  The community wards of Cefnyrhendy, Groes-faen, Maes-y-felin and Miskin in the community of Pont-y-clun are abolished.

7.  The community of Pont-y-clun is to be divided into the following wards—

(a) the Pontyclun East ward shown hatched on Map 2;

(b) the Pontyclun Central ward as shown hatched on Map 3;

(c) the Pontyclun West ward as shown hatched on Map 4.

The community of Pont-y-clun: consequential changes to electoral arrangements

8.  In the community of Pont-y-clun—

(a) the number of members to be elected for the Pontyclun East ward is 3;

(b) the number of members to be elected for the Pontyclun Central ward is 4;

(c) the number of members to be elected for the Pontyclun West ward is 4.

The communities of Llwyn-y-pia, Trealaw and Ystrad: changes to community boundaries

9.—(1) The part of the community of Ystrad shown hatched on Map 5 is transferred to the community of Llwyn-y-pia.

(2) The part of the community of Trealaw shown cross-hatched on Map 5 is transferred to the community of Llwyn-y-pia.

The communities of Trehafod and Pontypridd Town: changes to community boundaries

10.  The part of the community of Pontypridd Town shown hatched on Map 6 is transferred to the community of Trehafod.

The community of Pontypridd Town: abolition and creation of community wards

11.  The community wards of Hawthorn, Ilan, Rhydfelen Central, and Rhydfelen Lower in the community of Pontypridd Town are abolished.

12.  There are constituted the following community wards in the community of Pontypridd Town—

(a) the Rhydfelen Central ward shown hatched on Map 7;

(b) the Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen ward shown hatched on Map 8;

(c) the Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf ward shown hatched on Map 9.

The community of Pontypridd Town: consequential changes to electoral arrangements

13.  In the community of Pontypridd Town—

(a) the number of members to be elected for the Rhydfelen Central ward is 2;

(b) the number of members to be elected for the Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen ward is 2;

(c) the number of members to be elected for the Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf ward is 2;

(d) the number of members to be elected for the Rhondda ward is 3;

(e) the number of councillors to be elected for the Treforest ward is 3.

Rebecca Evans

Minister for Finance and Local Government, one of the Welsh Ministers

22 September 2021

Article 3

SCHEDULE NAMES AND AREAS OF ELECTORAL WARDS AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

Table

Column (1)	Column (2)	Column (3)	Column (4)
English language name of electoral ward	Welsh language name of electoral ward	Area of electoral ward	Number of members of the council
Aberaman	Aberaman	The communities of Aberaman North and Aberaman South	3
Abercynon	Abercynon	The community of Abercynon	2
Aberdare East	Dwyrain Aberdâr	The community of Aberdare East	2
Aberdare West and Llwydcoed	Gorllewin Aberdâr a Llwydcoed	The communities of Aberdare West and Llwydcoed	3
Beddau and Tyn-y-nant	Beddau a Thyn-y-nant	The Beddau and Tyn-y-nant wards of the community of Llantwit Fardre	2
Brynna and Llanharan	Brynna a Llanharan	The Brynna, Llanilid and Llanharan wards of the community of Llanharan	3
Church Village	Pentre’r Eglwys	The Church Village ward of the community of Llantwit Fardre	2
Cilfynydd	Cilfynydd	The Cilfynydd ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Cwm Clydach	Cwm Clydach	The community of Cwm Clydach	1
Cwmbach	Cwm-bach	The community of Cwmbach	2
Cymer	Cymer	The communities of Cymmer and Trehafod	2
Ferndale and Maerdy	Glynrhedynog a’r Maerdy	The communities of Ferndale and Maerdy	2
Gilfach-goch	Gilfach-goch	The community of Gilfach Goch	1
Glyn-coch	Glyn-coch	The Glyncoch ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Graig and Pontypridd West	Y Graig a Gorllewin Pontypridd	The Graig and Rhondda wards of the community of Pontypridd Town	2
Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen	Y Ddraenen-wen a Rhydfelen Isaf	The Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos	Hirwaun, Penderyn a’r Rhigos	The communities of Hirwaun and Rhigos	2
Llanharry	Llanhari	The Llanharry ward of the community of Llanharry	1
Llantrisant and Talbot Green	Llantrisant a Thonysguboriau	The Llantrisant Town and Talbot Green wards of the community of Llantrisant	2
Llantwit Fardre	Llanilltud Faerdref	The Efail Isaf and Llantwit Fardre wards of the community of Llantwit Fardre	2
Llwyn-y-pia	Llwynypia	The community of Llwyn-y-pia	1
Mountain Ash	Aberpennar	The communities of Mountain Ash East and Mountain Ash West	2
Penrhiw-ceibr	Penrhiw-ceibr	The community of Penrhiw-ceibr	2
Pentre	Pentre	The community of Pentre	2
Pen-y-graig	Pen-y-graig	The community of Pen-y-graig	2
Pen-y-waun	Pen-y-waun	The community of Pen-y-waun	1
Pontyclun Central	Canol Pont-y-clun	The Pontyclun Central ward of the community of Pont-y-clun	1
Pontyclun East	Dwyrain Pont-y-clun	The Pontyclun East ward of the community of Pont-y-clun	1
Pontyclun West	Gorllewin Pont-y-clun	The Pontyclun West ward of the community of Pont-y-clun and the Tyle-garw ward of the community of Llanharry	1
Pontypridd Town	Tref Pontypridd	The Town ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Porth	Porth	The community of Porth	2
Rhydfelen Central	Canol Rhydfelen	The Rhydfelen Central ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Taff’s Well	Ffynnon Taf	The community of Taffs Well	1
Ton-teg	Ton-teg	The Ton-teg ward of the community of Llantwit Fardre	1
Tonypandy	Tonypandy	The community of Tonypandy	1
Tonyrefail East	Dwyrain Tonyrefail	The Coedely, Collena and Tylcha wards of the community of Tonyrefail	2
Tonyrefail West	Gorllewin Tonyrefail	The Penrhiw-fer, Thomastown and Tynybryn wards of the community of Tonyrefail	2
Trallwng	Trallwng	The Trallwng ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Trealaw	Trealaw	The community of Trealaw	1
Treforest	Trefforest	The Treforest ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Treherbert	Treherbert	The community of Treherbert	2
Treorchy	Treorci	The community of Treorchy	2
Tylorstown and Ynyshir	Tylorstown ac Ynys-hir	The communities of Tylorstown and Ynyshir	2
Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf	Rhydfelen Uchaf a Glyn-taf	The Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf ward of the community of Pontypridd Town	1
Ynysybwl	Ynys-y-bwl	The community of Ynysybwl and Coed-y-Cwm	2
Ystrad	Ystrad	The community of Ystrad	2

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements the recommendations of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (“the Commission”), which reported in March 2020 on its review of the electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Commission’s Report proposed a reduction in the number of electoral wards from 52 to 46, but recommended the number of councillors to remain at 75.

This Order implements the Commission’s recommendations, with modifications.

Article 3 of this Order abolishes the existing electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf and introduces the Schedule, which sets out the new electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

This Order also implements recommendations for changes to community boundaries and electoral arrangements for some communities within the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Article 4 makes changes to the boundary between the community wards of Ton-teg and Church Village within the community of Llantwit Fardre. Article 5 sets out the number of members to be elected for the Church Village ward.

Article 6 abolishes the community wards within the community of Pont-y-clun, and article 7 creates the new community wards of Pontyclun East, Pontyclun Central and Pontyclun West. Article 8 sets out the number of members to be elected for these wards.

Article 9 makes changes to the boundaries of the communities of Ystrad, Llwyn-y-pia and Trealaw.

Article 10 provides for the transfer of an area from the community of Pontypridd Town to the community of Trehafod.

Article 11 abolishes the community wards of Hawthorn, Ilan, Rhydfelen Central and Rhydfelen Lower within the community of Pontypridd Town. Article 12 creates the new community wards of Rhydfelen Central, Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen, and Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf. Article 13 sets out the number of members to be elected for these new wards, and makes changes to the number of members to be elected in the Rhondda and Treforest wards.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.

Prints of the maps labelled “1” to “9” to which this Order relates are deposited in the office of the Welsh Government at Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ (Local Government Democracy Division), and with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Prints deposited with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council are open to inspection by anyone affected by the provisions of this Order.

(1)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales was established by section 53 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (“the 1972 Act”). Section 53 and Schedule 8 were repealed by section 73(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4) (“the 2013 Act”). The 2013 Act re-names the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (see section 2).

(2)

2013 anaw 4.

(3)

The Local Authorities (Change to the Years of Ordinary Elections) (Wales) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1269 (W. 220)) amends section 26(1) of the 1972 Act to provide that the year in which the ordinary elections of councillors of local authorities shall take place is 2022 instead of 2021.

(4)

S.I. 1976/246. Section 74(3) of the 2013 Act provides that the Regulations continue to have effect in relation to orders made under Part 3 of the 2013 Act, as if those orders were made under Part 4 of the 1972 Act.

(5)

1972 c. 70; section 58 of the 1972 Act was repealed by section 73(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the 2013 Act, subject to savings provisions specified in section 74 of the 2013 Act.