What is a community boundary review?
There are two different types of community review that may be carried out by principal councils pursuant to the Act:
- a) Review of community boundaries (under Section 25 of the Act)
A review of community boundaries should ensure that communities continue to reflect local identities and facilitate effective and convenient local government. For example, over time communities may expand with new housing developments. This can lead to boundaries becoming anomalous, for example if new housing is built across boundaries resulting in confusion over which community a housing estate falls into. A community review offers an opportunity to the principal council to put in place strong, clearly defined boundaries tied to ground features, and to remove any anomalous boundaries that exist. Community boundary changes may involve altering the boundary of an existing community, dissolving an existing community, or creating a new community.
- b) Review of the electoral arrangements (under Section 31 of the Act)
This process involves examining the electoral arrangements within a specific community, which includes evaluating the wards and the number of councillors. During such a review, the Council may consider the following aspects:
- The number of council members representing the community.
- The division into wards (if applicable) for the election of councillors.
- The number and boundaries of any wards.
- The number of councillors to be elected for each ward.
- The name of each ward.
Aim of the review
The aim is to undertake a community review as part of Conwy County Borough Council’s statutory duty and will be guided by Sections 25 and 31 of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013.
The aim of a review of community boundaries under Section 25 should ensure that communities continue to reflect local identities and facilitate effective and convenient local government.
If changes to community boundaries are recommended following the review under Section 25, then additional modifications that result from these boundary changes can be suggested as part of Section 31.
Review timetable
Community Boundary Review 2025 timetable
| Stage | What happens? | Timescale | Date |
|---|
| Commencement |
Terms of reference agreed at full Council |
|
22 May 2025 |
| Preliminary stage: Initial publicity and first consultation |
Publish Terms of Reference and start initial publicity
7 week consultation period starts |
7 weeks |
23 May to 11 July 2025 |
| Public consultation ends |
|
|
11 July 2025 |
| Representations considered and draft proposals prepared |
Consideration of submissions received, draft recommendations are prepared |
2 months |
July and August 2025 |
| Approval of draft proposals |
Draft proposals presented to Council and approved for further consultation |
|
9 October 2025 |
| Second consultation |
Publish report in accordance with the Act. Invite comments from stakeholders and compulsory consultees |
7 weeks |
October and November 2025 |
| Second consultation ends |
|
|
18 November 2025 |
| Final report presented to full Council |
Representations considered and included in final report. Council decide final proposals |
|
26 February 2026 |
| Final proposals published |
Publication of the final report
1. Make the order of the Section 31 review (6 weeks after publication of final report)
2. Submit recommendations of the Section 25 review to Boundary Commission |
|
March and April 2026 |
| Next local government elections |
|
|
May 2027 |
Documents