In this first of three ward-by-ward previews, I focus on the Ogmore, Garw and Llynfi Valleys as well as the Sarn/Aberkenfig/Bryncethin area (in council-speak called “The Valleys Gateway”).
There’s a widget you can use below (also on the home page) from the Democracy Club if you’re unsure which ward you’re in – particularly following boundary changes. Just put in your postcode and it’ll give you a list of candidates.
Which county councillors are standing down this year?
- Sorrel Dendy (Ind, Blaengarw) – will still be running for Garw Community Council.
- Keith Edwards (Ind, Maesteg East) – has already been returned to Maesteg Town Council.
- Gareth Howells (Lab, Caerau)
- Mary Hughes (Ind, Nantymoel)
- Altaf Hussain (Con, Penyfai) – elected as MS for South Wales West in 2021.
- David Lewis (Lab, Sarn)
- Janice Lewis (Lab, Bryncoch)
- James Radcliffe (Plaid, Aberkenfig)
- Rod Shaw (Ind, Pontycymer)
- Roz Stirman (Ind, Llangeinor)
Note: Town and community councils are usually run on a non-partisan basis, but have become increasingly politicised over the last term or two, making the results and number of seats won by each party/group more important than it used to be.
Contested elections
Maesteg Town Council (17 councillors) – A key Labour vs Independent showdown. Two wards – Maesteg East & Maesteg West – will be uncontested, returning 6 Independents and 3 Labour members between them (with a single vacancy).
Independents are already guaranteed one seat each in the Nantyfyllon and Caerau wards, meaning they’d need to win an additional seat in either of those wards to secure a majority and match what they did in 2017.
Plaid Cymru’s Kyle Duggan – who was co-opted onto the Town Council following the 2021 by-election – probably stands a better chance of being elected to the town council than the county. If he can manage to do that it would be a decent accomplishment.
Newcastle Higher Community Council (12 councillors) – The community council covers Aberkenfig, the southern half of Tondu and the village of Penyfai. The Aberkenfig ward will be uncontested and has returned 3 Independents and 2 Labour with a single vacancy.
The Penyfai ward will be contested, with Independents guaranteed another 3 seats, putting them on the brink of securing a majority on the community council – though they’ll face stiff competition from Labour and the Conservatives for the remaining seats.
Garw Valley Community Council (13 councillors) – Only the Blaengarw ward will hold a contested election, with Labour and Independents guaranteed one councillor each. The other three wards will be uncontested, resulting in the unopposed election of 6 Labour councillors and 2 Independents with 2 vacancies. Labour has, therefore, already secured a majority.
Uncontested elections
Llangynwyd Middle Community Council (12 councillors) – The community council includes the villages of Pont Rhyd-y-Cyff, Llangynwyd and Cwmfelin. Only two nominations (2 Labour) were submitted across the two wards, rending the council inquorate (not enough members). Fresh elections will need to be held at a later date.
Llangynwyd Lower Community Council (7 councillors) – The community council is mainly focused on the village of Coytrahen. As a result of an uncontested election, all seven councillors have been elected unopposed (6 Independent, 1 Labour).
Ogmore Valley Community Council (15 councillors) – One nomination was submitted for the four wards that make up the community council (1 Labour), resulting in 14 vacancies and rendering the council inquorate. Fresh elections will need to be held at a later date.
St. Bride’s Minor Community Council (13 councillors) – The community council covers Sarn, Bryncoch, Pen-y-Cae and Bryncethin. 5 Independent councillors were elected unopposed, with a remaining 8 vacancies. No nominations were submitted for the Bryncethin ward. However, there should be enough members to hold meetings.
In what’s likely to be an embarrassment to Labour, it appears some of their sitting councillors failed to realise that they needed to re-apply for their community council seats.
Ynysawdre Community Council (10 councillors) – The community council includes Abergarw, Brynmenyn and the northern half of Tondu. Four nominations (4 Independent) were submitted across two wards. The council likely meets the minimum number of members needed to hold meetings (normally a third of the total), with 6 vacancies.
