Review of Community Arrangements

What is a Community Review?

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has a statutory duty, under the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 to monitor the communities within the county, and the electoral arrangements of those communities.  It must also carry out 'community reviews’ when the Act requires, or when it considers appropriate. In carrying out these duties the Council must still seek to ensure effective and convenient local government. 

Terms of Reference

There are two types of community reviews that the Council can undertake:

1. Review of Community Boundaries (under section 25 of the Act)

A review of the boundaries of one or more communities to ensure that they continue to reflect the identity of the area concerned and facilitate effective and convenient local government. Community boundary changes include changes to the boundary of an existing community, or the dissolution of an existing community and the creation of a new community.  

2. Review of Electoral Arrangements (under section 31 of the Act)

This involves looking at the electoral arrangements within a particular community, which means considering the situation in relation to wards and the number of councillors. In carrying out such a review the Council may look at: 

• the number of members of the council for the community;
• the division into wards (if appropriate) for the purpose of the election of councillors;
• the number and boundaries of any wards;
• the name of any ward
• the number of members to be elected for any ward;

Have your say

The Council has published draft proposals in response to the first phase of the review and we want to hear your views.  Closing date: 29 December 2025

Share your feedback my emailing democratic@merthyr.gov.uk

The key points of the proposals are outlined below:

• That the existing Ward structure for the Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Council remain unchanged.
• That the number of elected representatives for the Bedlinog Community Ward be reduced from four to three.
• That the Trelewis Community Ward continue to have five elected representatives.
• That there be no change to the name of the Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Council.