§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those local authorities in Wales with which he has held discussions on his proposals for the reform of local government.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasDiscussions with the following Welsh local authorities took place following publication of the consultative document in February, 1971:
and written representations from nearly all local authorities in Wales also were taken into account.
- Breconshire County Council (M)
- Cardiff County Borough Council
- Carmarthenshire County Council
- Glamorgan County Council
- Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (M)
- Monmouthshire County Council (M)
- Newport County Borough Council
- Pembrokeshire County Council
- Rhondda Borough Council
- Swansea County Borough Council;
- (M) denotes a meeting with the Minister of State.
- The other meetings were with the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those local authorities or organisations whose requests he has succeeded in meeting by changing the proposals he made in the consultative document for the reform of local government in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe geographical changes and the authorities whose representations mainly prompted them are listed below. In some instances, the local authority's wishes could be met only in part, or its preferred solution had to be rejected and an alternative adopted, which it regarded as second best.
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Change: Supported by: Placing four parishes of Gwyrfai R.D. in Gwynedd District 3 Caernarvonshire County Council Gwyrfai Rural District Council Llanwnda Parish Council Llandwrog parish Council Llanllyfni Parish Council Creation of two districts in Pembrokeshire instead of one Pembrokeshire County Council All county district councils in Pembrokeshire (11) A N.A.L.G.O. Action Committee representing staff of all the district authorities (there was support also from individual district branches) Inclusion of the whole of Newcastle Emlyn Rural District in one new district Carmarthenshire County Council Newcastle Emlyn Rural District Council Inclusion of Llanrhidian Parish (Gower Rural District) with the remainder of Gower Rural District in District 1 of West Glamorgan Swansea County Borough Council Gower District Council Transfer of three parishes of Magor and St. Mellons Rural District to Gwent District 1 Monmouthshire County Council Newport County Borough Council Magor and St. Mellons Rural District Council Goldcliff Parish Council Magor Parish Council Langstone Parish Council Peterstone Wentlooge Parish Meeitng Llanmartin Parish Meeting As far as South Glamorgan is concerned, the change meets in large measure the wishes of the Cardiff City Council, the Penarth Urban District Council and the Cardiff City Branch of N.A.L.G.O.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities and organisations have made representations to him protesting against his proposal to transfer parts of South Breconshire to counties outside Powys.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe following authorities and organisations have made representations opposing the addition of the southern industrial fringe of Breconshire to Mid-Glamorgan and Gwent:
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- Breconshire County Council.
- Hay U.D.C.
- Knighton U.D.C.
- Llanwrtyd Wells U.D.C.
- Builth R.D.C.
- *Crickhowell R.D.C.
- Hay R.D.C.
- Paincastle R.D.C.
- Ystradgynlais R.D.C.
- †Llanelly Parish Council (Crickhowell R.D.).
- Ystradfellte Parish Council (Vaynor and Penderyn R.D.).
- Brecon & Radnor Conservative Association.
- Beconshire Association of Parish Councils.
- Brecknock County Naturalists' Trust Ltd.
- Penderyn Local History Society.
- Breconshire Federation of Women's Institutes.
- Breconshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.
- Breconshire Rural Community Council.
- Breconshire Association of Theatrical Societies.
…* Crickhowell R.D.C. Crickhowell R.D.C. expressed disappointment that the whole of its area was not included in Gwent and, in view of this, it asked that its area should be added to Powys as a complete district.
† Llanelly Parish. Llanelly Parish Council said that it wanted the parish to stay with the rest of Crickhowell R.D. within Powys. It advised, however, that the ward of Darenfelen would feel more in sympathy with the Secretary of State's proposal since it had more affinity with Brynmawr.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, before the conclusion of the Local Government Bill, he, or the Minister of State, will visit Breconshire to discuss the proposed changes affecting the county; and particularly, if he or the Minister will visit the localities which have expressed their opposition to the proposals.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNo. The issues involved, and the opposing points of view, are abundantly clear. Most of the local authorities directly concerned support the changes.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales with which local authorities, including parish councils, and organisations in South Breconshire he, or the Minister of State, had discussions before deciding to seek to transfer those areas from Breconshire to any proposed new county other than Powys.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThere were no discussions before the issue of the consultative document, although I took 411W account of the views expressed on the proposals of the previous Administration. Following the appearance of the consultative document there were discussions with the Breconshire County Council, Glamorgan County Council, Monmouthshire County Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, and written comments were received from all the county district councils in Breconshire, from the parish councils of Llanelli and Crickhowell (Crickhowell R.D.) and Vaynor (Vaynor and Penderyn R.D.), from the Breconshire Association of Parish Councils and from many authorities in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales which communities in those areas which he proposes to seek to transfer from South Breconshire to counties other than Powys have made representations to him against the proposed change; and, specifically, what representations he has had from Pontsticill, Penderyn, and Llanelly in favour of the 412W retention of these communities in Breconshire.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasIn the case of Pontsticill, the relevant Parish Council, Vaynor Parish Council, supported my proposal to transfer the parish to Glamorgan.
In the case of Penderyn, representations against my proposals were received from a member of the Breconshire County Council speaking on behalf of some of the electors of the parish. The representations said, however, that the parish council had—on the casting vote of the chairman—taken a contrary view.
The Llanelli Parish Council said that it wished to stay with the rest of Crickhowell Rural District, but the relevant letter said that one ward of the parish, Darenfelen, had more affinity with Brynmawr and hence with the consultative document's proposal.
No other representations from communities in the areas in question have been received.