Shake up of Wrexham council wards would see more councillors and boundary changes

The number of councillors in Wrexham could increase by four as part of proposals put forward by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.

The commission has published its Final Recommendations for the future electoral arrangements for the County Borough of Wrexham and submitted them to Welsh Government Ministers last week.

Currently there are 52 councillors in Wrexham covering 47 wards across the county borough. The majority of wards are represented by individual councillors, with the likes of Cefn, Llay, Coedpoeth, Ponciau and Gwersyllt East and South having two representatives.

However the commission has set out an overall aim that Wrexham County Borough Council be made up of 56 Members with one extra ward – an additional three Members on current arrangements – and whom could be elected locally in the next Local Government Election in 2022.

One reason for the changes is the growth in eligible voters, with the estimated number of the electorate rising from 100,840 to 104,845. Part of that growth could be due to 16 and 17 year olds being allowed to vote, and foreign nationals.

The protracted 98 page final report has now been published by the Commission detailing changes on a per-ward level, along with reams of preamble and supporting evidence made up of responses to the report and consultations.

Where it has made changes to the existing arrangements a description of the change, the representations it has received, the reasons for any change and a map of the proposals are contained in the report.

The final report does have some changes from the draft report, with the key recommendations and finding being:

• The Commission recommends a council of 56 members, an increase from the current size of 52.
• The Commission recommends a change to the arrangement of electoral wards that will achieve a “marked improvement in the level of electoral parity” across the County Borough of Wrexham.
• The Commission recommends 49 electoral wards, an increase of two from the 47 existing wards.
• The largest under-representation is recommended to be 27% above the proposed county average in Gresford East and West and Gwersyllt West.
• The largest over-representation is recommended to be 27% below the proposed county average in Rossett.
• The Commission recommends seven multi-member wards in the county borough consisting of seven two-member electoral wards.
• The Commission recommends retaining 24 electoral wards.
• The Commission recommends that four electoral wards within the county borough which combine a part of a warded community, along with its neighbouring community.

The recommended changes had been put to out consultation, with the commission receiving 207 representations, from Wrexham County Borough Council, one MP, one MS, seven County Borough Councillors, six community councils and 191 residents of Wrexham.

Amongst the proposals are changes to existing boundaries and the renaming of a number of wards. This is alongside Welsh names now being formalised with the wording being endorsed by the Welsh Language Commissioner eg. Borras Park / Parc Borras, Little Acton / Acton Fechan etc and the electoral ward of Dyffryn Ceiriog to be given the single name of Dyffryn Ceiriog.

A detailed breakdown of the proposed changes and number of councillors can be found in the report itself with many wards getting a map of changes and detailed bulletpoint explanation and justification of changes.

The recommendations include the creation of Acrefair North, which would include the existing Plas Madoc ward and the community of Cefn.

Pant and Johnstown would merge to create one ward, represented by two councillors. Changes would also be made to Gwersyllt wards, with East and South split to two single one member wards in line with the North and West wards.

The Brymbo ward would see an adjustment and addition of a councillor. Bryn Cefn will seen Brynteg ward areas merged in, with Gwenfro getting parts of New Broughton and Brynteg moved in.

A section of Abenbury will become part of Whitegate, and part of Whitegate around Newton Street would become part of Smithfield. To complete what appears to be a balancing act parts of the west of the Smithfield ward would become part of Wynnstay ward.

Rossett will have two councillors rather than the current one, and the commission notes they did consider having three for the single ward, but have rejected it.

Erddig ward will have two areas transferred in from Offa, part of Green Park area to the south, as well as reaching past St Giles way and including St Giles itself and half of High Street. Offa balances by gaining area from Brynyffynnon.

Rhosnesni would move from one to two councillors, with Acton and Maesydre also coming into being with two councillors.

The exact reasoning, maps and precise details can be found in the report itself. The report also includes the below table that shows the new names of the wards, the areas they cover, and the number of councillors that will represent each ward:

The adjustment of some wards aims to fix a representation issue, with the commission stating: “In respect of the number of electors per councillor in each electoral ward, there is a wide variation from the current county average of 1,939 electors per councillor ranging from 37% below (1,222 electors) to 60% above (3,107 electors).

“The determination of the council of 56 members results in an average of 1,801 electors being represented by each councillor.”

The findings will now be submitted to Welsh Government which will decide how to proceed with the recommendations.