2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 1 December 2020.

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Photo of Hefin David Hefin David Labour 2:34, 1 December 2020

Can I ask the Trefnydd to consider a report to this Chamber on the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales's investigation into boundaries in local authorities in Wales? I've got a particular issue facing those people in Forge Mill in Ystrad Mynach, whereby they've been moved from one community council area, which they associate strongly with—Gelligaer Community Council—to another community council area, which they don't associate with, which is Llanbradach community council. I've never had so many people complain to me about local government boundaries before—528 electors are affected, and it will effectively move them from Ystrad Mynach to Llanbradach, and Ystrad Mynach is the community that they are most closely associated with. And indeed, living nearby, I can understand those feelings. There is also an issue whereby Bargoed and Aberbargoed are being linked together. Well, Aberbargoed is in the Islwyn constituency, and Bargoed is in the Caerphilly constituency, and the only thing those two towns have got in common is they've both got 'bargoed' in their name, and that's it.

I've raised those concerns directly with the Minister last week, and she has to act in a quasi-judicial capacity, therefore she's unable to make a statement on it prior to her determination. But what I would like is a report to this Chamber about that determination. And also can I have a timescale for how long it will take for that determination to be made? It will be six weeks after the deposit of the paper, which is 5 November, but, during these difficult times, it's difficult to say when exactly that will be—so, some form of timescale about how that decision will be made. People, particularly in Forge Mill, have made very strong representations about this.