Bridgend Town and Community Councils Face Potential Abolishment in Review
Bridgend Council proposes changes that could merge or scrap some councils, affecting local governance.
Bridgend, Town Councils, Community Councils, Wales, Local Government
Bridgend: Some town and community councils might be merged or scrapped. Bridgend Council recently published draft proposals for these changes. They aim to set a minimum size for councils based on registered voters.
Currently, Bridgend has 20 councils, including four town councils and 16 community councils. The last review happened in 2009, and these reviews typically occur every ten years.
The new rules could require councils to have at least 5,000 registered voters. Smaller councils may be merged with larger ones, reducing the total number from 20 to 13.
These changes would also adjust community boundaries and the number of councillors. The goal is to ensure local identities are maintained while improving local governance.
Some proposed mergers include Brackla with Coychurch Lower and Pyle with Cefn Cribbwr. The full list of proposals is available for review.
Feedback on the proposals has been mixed. Some support the review, while others, like Merthyr Mawr community council, oppose any changes. Coychurch Higher emphasizes the importance of keeping its local identity.
The county borough council will review the report before making a final decision in the coming months. Stay updated on Bridgend news by signing up for the newsletter.