Agenda item

To submit the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democracy in response to a petition request for a community review of Pentraeth Community Council was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience presented the report noting that on 28 July, 2025 members of the electorate in the Pentraeth community submitted a valid petition request calling for the Council to initiate a section 31 community governance review of their community council. The petition cited a loss of confidence in the council due to alleged persistent failings, poor judgement and lack of transparency in local governance and representation. The petition also called for the suspension of any co-option or electoral appointments to the community council until the review had taken place. In response, Officers wrote back to the petition organiser to clarify that election and co-option procedures had been properly followed and that the County Council had no lawful authority to intervene in the matter. Despite two recent opportunities to call for an election, no requests were received, and therefore four vacancies have been  processed through co-option and a further three vacancies will also be processed this way.

Councillor Carwyn Jones explained that the purpose of a community review is to assess whether current community ward boundaries remain suitable in light of population changes or any other developments. Ideally such a review should precede an electoral review by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales. Such a review by the Commission will be undertaken in Anglesey between September 2027 and July 2028. The Council plans  to conduct an island wide section 31 community review before the next local government elections in May 2027, beginning the process by the end of 2025. To ensure efficient use of public funds and staffing resources, it is recommended that the Pentraeth review is conducted as part of the wider island review.

In response to a request by the Executive, the Head of Democracy clarified that a section 31 community review considers the arrangements for representation on community councils including the number of council members. The review may also examine how wards are arranged, including the number of wards and their boundaries. These reviews are conducted to ensure that electoral arrangements remain appropriate ahead of a local government election and to account for any other changes within the community. Regarding the  timescale, the Head of Democracy explained that the process involves four main stages  – initial publicity, initial investigations and consultation, draft proposals and consultation on those proposals and final recommendations. The first two stages are scheduled to take place between December 2025 and April, 2026 with the remaining stages planned between June 2026 and December 2026.The process will be paused for the Senedd elections in May 2026 and input from the Boundary Commission will also be sought.

Responding to a  request for assurance that a community wide review is considered a routine event, and that due to the specific request, the Pentraeth review will be prioritised as part of the process, the Head of Democracy confirmed that conducting  a community review is a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act 2013. New guidelines have since been published in 2022 and will be followed in the review process. The Council has been informed that the Boundary Commission for Wales will be undertaking a boundary review in 2027 when the local government elections will be held. It was the Council’s intention to conduct  a community review ahead of those elections. Given the request for a review of Pentraeth it will be included in those arrangements subject  to the Executive’s approval.

It was resolved –

·      To agree to conduct a section 31 Community Review of Pentraeth Community Council in accordance with a petition request by members of the electorate.

·      To conduct the review as part of an Island wide section 31 community review.