COMMUNITY council areas in Caerphilly County Borough are set for a shake-up in time for the next local government elections.
Several existing communities could be abolished or reshaped to better reflect “local identities” and make local government more “effective and convenient”.
Community and town councils are the lowest tier of local government and have responsibilities for some public services.
These typically include providing public information noticeboards, seating, war memorials and some recreation facilities.
There is no obligation for any area to have a community or town council however, and most local government services are provided by a local authority – in this case, Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC) carried out a review and public consultation of Caerphilly’s communities in 2023, and recommended changes to 14 areas.
The key changes it proposed include abolishing the existing town area of Risca West and community of Risca East, and creating a new community called Risca.
Similarly, the DBCC proposed replacing the existing community of Rudry and that of Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen with a new community bearing all four villages’ names.
Another similar recommendation would involve abolishing the existing community areas of Cefn Fforest and of Pengam to make a new community area combining those two areas.
In some cases, residents who are currently served by a town or community council will see that representation change – or could lose it altogether.
This may be the case in Maesycwmmer, where boundary changes would mean some residents instead fall under the Pontllanfraith community area, which does not currently have a community council.
The DBCC’s proposals went before the Welsh Government, and First Minister Eluned Morgan this week said she had written to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s leader and chief executive “to advise them of my decision to agree the recommendations contained within the commission’s report and that they will be implemented without modification”.
The First Minister said “work will now be undertaken to progress the drafting of the order required to implement this decision with the changes coming into force on May 6, 2027”.
“The preparations for the revised arrangements will require careful consideration and planning to ensure a smooth transition from the current structures to the new arrangements,” Baroness Morgan added. “I have encouraged the council to begin discussions with the community councils in the county area as soon as possible.”
