POTENTIAL changes to town and community councils across Bridgend county could be a step closer this month as the local authority launches a 12-week consultation to gather views from members of the public.
The draft plans, which are part of an electoral review, could result in a number of town and community councils in the area being abolished, along with the the introduction of a policy for a minimum electorate size.
This could mean that all councils in the borough would need to have a minimum of 5,000 registered voters in the future, with the smaller ones potentially being abolished or merged with larger community councils.
It could also see changes to local boundaries with the amount of councils reduced from a total of 20 to 13 as well as reductions in the overall number of councillors as well.
Bridgend currently has 20 town and community councils across the county borough, which are made up of four town councils and 16 community councils. The last full review of these was carried out in 2009 and is said to follow an “approximate 10-year cycle.”
Some of the proposed changes could include the merging of places like Brackla with Coychurch Lower, Pyle with Cefn Cribbwr, Maesteg with Llangynwyd Middle, and Pencoed with Coychurch Higher.
A previous report said these were put forward in order to “ensure that communities continue to reflect local identities and facilitate effective and convenient local government across the principal council area.”
Following a consultation with all the local town and community councils, the local authority will now ask residents to have their say on the plans as well, with a public consultation open until April 7, 2025.
A Bridgend Council spokesperson said: “Following the consultation period, the proposals will need to be examined and approved by the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales. Any changes would come into effect for the local elections in 2027.”
