Comment DBCC-8411

REVIEW OF SENEDD CONSTITUENCIES 2026
Consultation Response – Neath Port Talbot Council

In response to the Commission’s consultation exercise regarding their revised proposals published on 17 December 2024, the following response is submitted for consideration.

The Council’s four main political groups have agreed the commentary as outlined below regarding the proposed new Senedd constituencies before the Commission’s 13 January 2025 submission deadline.

The particular Senedd constituency pairings of relevance to this local authority are:

• Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore
renamed Afan Ogwr Rhondda

• Brecon, Radnor, Neath and Swansea East
renamed De Powys Tawe Nedd – South Powys Tawe Neath

The political groups have no further comments in relation to the unchanged revised proposals that the Commission has published.

Members simply wished to repeat their concern over the added layers of complexity newly elected representatives will face in advocating for constituents across multiple principal councils, health boards, police forces and rescue services.

It is well understood that the remit of the Commission in undertaking the current 2026 Senedd constituencies review is exceptionally restricted which may limit the ability to offer alternative combination pairings.

Nevertheless, the political groups remain steadfast in their view that at the earliest opportunity and where greater flexibility is afforded, the Commission must as a matter of urgency further review the current revised proposals and look to put in place constituency boundaries, which better reflect the long-standing communities and community ties they purport to represent.

The Commission are asked to take full consideration of all of these impacts now and during future reviews.

Comment on naming and designations of Senedd constituencies:

The following comments are submitted in relation to the naming and designation of the Senedd constituencies.

Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore
renamed Afan Ogwr Rhondda

With regard to the proposed Afan Ogwr Rhondda Senedd constituency title tentative support of the approach being taken by the Commission in utilising a shortened monolingual naming convention is offered. It is felt that the name would likely be clearly recognisable to local communities.

Brecon, Radnor, Neath and Swansea East renamed De Powys Tawe Nedd – South Powys Tawe Neath

In terms of the proposed De Powys Tawe Nedd – South Powys Tawe Neath the proposed alternative title is suggested:

Nedd Tawe De Powys - Neath Tawe South Powys

It is the strong view of the political groups that the title of the constituency should be ordered to reflect the areas of the constituency with the largest share of the electorate.

This by far would be the Neath and Swansea East areas with a combined electorate of approximately just under 85,000 compared to and electorate of around 55,000 in the South Powys area. A difference of around 30,000 electors.

Based on the orthographic approval of the Welsh Language Commissioner the political groups would support the use of the main river names ‘Nedd’ and ‘Tawe’ as part of the revised Senedd Constituency within the Neath and Swansea East areas.

Respondent type

On behalf of a local authority

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.