BCBC publishes town &#038; community council shake-up proposals

Bridgend Council has published its draft proposals for reforming the county’s 20 town and community councils (pdf).

There’s a lot to cover, so I’ve split this post into sections.

If you don’t want to wade through that, the headline proposals are:

Town & community councils would be cut from 20 to 13.
Town & community councillors would be cut from 236 to 176.
All town & community councils would elect a minimum of 10 councillors and there would be no more “single ward” community councils (where all councillors are elected from a single list).
There are many proposed boundary changes – meaning the map would look quite different – but these changes are unlikely to affect many people. It mainly results in farmland, open spaces and industrial estates moving from one community to another (with a few notable exceptions).
Each of the proposed new councils meets BCBC’s target minimum of 5,000 electors. The smallest proposed “new council” (Newcastle Higher) would have 5,516 electors compared to the smallest at present (Merthyr Mawr, 235 electors).
Consultation responses were generally supportive of the need for change, though there was opposition from within Coychurch Higher and Merthyr Mawr community councils. Though some smaller community councils (Ynysawdre, Llangynwyd Middle, St. Bride’s Minor) support merging with neighbours.

2. Porthcawl & Valleys Gateway

Porthcawl Town Council

No changes to the number of wards, though Porthcawl West Central and Porthcawl East Central would change names to Porthcawl West and Porthcawl East respectively.
The Newton ward would expand to include Tythegston and Stormy Down (currently within Laleston Community Council).
Porthcawl town centre (John Street, Mary Street, The Esplanade etc.) would move from Porthcawl East to Porthcawl West; there are also some minor changes to the boundaries of the Rest Bay and Nottage wards.
Councillors would be increased from 18 to 19: Porthcawl East (6), Porthcawl West (4), Newton (3), Nottage (3), Rest Bay (3).

Cornelly Community Council

The community council would be split from a single ward to four separate wards (above).
Some land (part of the future LDP development site; the yellow bit on the map) is transferred to the new Cynffig Community Council.
The number of councillors would be increased from 9 to 11: Cornelly North (3), Cornelly East (3), Cornelly South (3), Cornelly West (2).

Cynffig Community Council

A proposed merger of Pyle Community Council with Cefn Cribwr Community Council.
The new community council would be divided into three wards (as illustrated above), with some boundary changes – mainly affecting rural areas/farmland.
10 councillors would be elected: Kenfig Hill (5), Pyle (3), Cefn Cribwr (2).

Newcastle Higher Community Council

A merger between Llangynwyd Lower, Newcastle Higher and the western (Tondu) half of Ynysawdre community councils.
The new Ynysawdre ward would cover all of Tondu village (including Parc Slip and the Pentre Felin estate), while a new Coytrahen ward would be created out of the former Llangynwyd Lower Community Council.
10 councillors would be elected: Ynysawdre (3), Pen-y-fai (3), Aberkenfig (2), Coytrahen (2).

Llansantffraid Community Council

A proposed new name for St. Bride’s Minor, which will consist of the current St. Bride’s Minor Community Council area (Sarn, Bryncethin, Bryncoch) merged with the Brynmenyn half of the present Ynysawdre Community Council.
The Bryncethin and Bryncoch wards would be merged into a single Bryncethin ward. A new ward of Brynmenyn would be created out of the remnants of Ynysawdre Community Council.
10 councillors would be elected: Bryncethin (4), Sarn (4), Brynmenyn (2).