We call on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to instruct the Local Government Boundary Commission to review the number of Councillors and Executive Members for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council with a view to reducing their numbers.

Additional Information:

Blaenau Gwent has more Councillors per head of population and more Executive Members than neighbouring Councils. Independent Members of the council put in a proposal to the council to reduce the number of executive members to 6 or 7. The Labour ruling council refused this. These savings could reopen the local toilets. Blaenau Gwent has 42 councillors and 10 executive members and the population is 69300, giving a count of 1 councillor for 1611 people. Merthyr Tydfil has 33 councillors and 7 executive members and the population is 58800 giving a count of 1 councillor for 1781 people. Caerphilly has 72 councillors and 10 executive members and the population is 178800 giving a count of 1 councillor for 2384 people.

Each Blaenau Gwent Councillor has the lowest population per councillor rate in Wales. Blaenau Gwent council has made staff redundant in all areas of the council but are not prepared to lower their head count when they are clearly over the amount needed. Can the Welsh Government look into this and force the council to reduce their numbers in order to save money and services in Blaenau Gwent.

Petition raised by:  Julian price 

Date Petition first considered by Committee: 23 September 2014

Number of signatures:    34