Consultation display

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill has been referred to the Local Government and Housing Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the Bill.

 

The information on this page provides more detail about what the Committee is looking at and how you can share your views.

 

Terms of reference

The Committee is considering:

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>>>The general principles of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objectives (see below for further information about the Bill).

>>>Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.

>>>Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.

>>>The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

>>>The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).

>>>Matters relating to the competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.

>>>The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.

>>>Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.

>>>Any other matter related to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill.

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Information about the Bill

If passed, the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill will:

 

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>>>Confer the functions of an Electoral Management Board for Wales on the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, which will involve the Commission establishing the Board to take responsibility for oversight of the coordination and administration of devolved elections, collaboration with Returning Officers, and Electoral Registration Officers and advising Welsh Ministers on issues related to the democratic health of the nation.

>>>Introduce electoral registration without application, and the ability to pilot the most appropriate means of achieving this.

>>>Create a duty on the Welsh Ministers to put in place arrangements aimed at improving diversity within Senedd and local government democratic structures, and for individual schemes to be created and tailored to provide support for protected characteristics.

>>>Remove the requirement to set out the specific wording and format of the local government candidate survey in regulations.

>>>Create a requirement for a voter information platform that can host candidate and voter information for Senedd and ordinary principal council elections.

>>>Hold candidates and agents accountable for notional expenditure only where they direct it, allowing authorised persons to make payments not via an election agent, and restricting who can operate as a third-party campaigner in devolved elections. To support these campaign finance changes, the bill also proposes enabling the Electoral Commission to include them in their codes of practice.

>>>Make adjustments to the role and remit of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, including changes to the name and function of its audit committee, significant strengthening of electoral review arrangements, and the conferring of functions on the Commission to undertake the majority of the functions currently undertaken by the Panel. The Commission will also be responsible for determining the amount of any resettlement payment payable by a principal council to councillors, who fail to be re-elected to the council at a local council election.

>>>Disqualify town and community councillors in Wales from serving as Members of the Senedd, and remove the existing “grace period” for principal councillors elected to the Senedd and Members of the Senedd elected as Members of Parliament.

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How to share your views

 

We want to make sure that our work is informed by experiences, needs, and views that reflect the diversity of the people and communities affected by these issues.

 

We encourage anyone with expertise or experience of these issues to share your views, with the full knowledge that your views will be welcomed and valued.

 

To share your views electronically, please send to SeneddHousing@senedd.wales or by post to Local Government and Housing Committee, Welsh Parliament, Cardiff, CF99 1SN.

 

The closing date for sharing your views is 16.00 on Friday 10 November 2023.

 

We would encourage you to keep your response brief and focused on the key points you would like to draw to the Committee’s attention.

 

Along with your submission, you should provide the following information:

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>>>Your name and contact details as the person, or organisation, submitting the evidence.

>>>Whether your evidence is submitted as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation.

>>>If you are submitting evidence as an individual, confirmation that you are over 18 years old.

>>>If you are under 13 years old, your parent or guardian’s agreement that you can participate (this can be provided via email).

>>>Confirmation of whether you would prefer that your name is not published alongside your evidence (names of individuals under 18 years old will not be published).

>>>Confirmation of whether you would like the Committee to treat any or all of your written evidence as confidential, with reasons for the request.

>>>If you have referred to a third party in your evidence, such as a parent, spouse or relative, confirmation that they have agreed that you can share information that may be used to identify them and that they understand that it will be published.

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Providing Written Evidence

 

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

Disclosure of information

 

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.