Local Government Boundaries (Hansard, 18 May 1998)

HC Deb 18 May 1998 vol 312 cc230-1W 230W

§ Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many responses from Wrexham community and town councils to his letter of consultation on the proposed boundary review of Llangollen dated 22 August 1997 he had received prior to the reminder letter sent from his Office on 2 October to Denbighshire town and community councils extending the deadline for replies to 18 October 1997; [41793]
(2) how many responses from Denbighshire community and town councils to his letter of consultation on the proposed boundary review of Llangollen dated 22 August 1997 he had received prior to the reminder letter sent from his office on 2 October 1997 extending the deadline to 18 October. [41795]

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
Prior to 2 October 1997, 4 responses were received from community and town councils in Wrexham and 8 from those in Denbighshire.

§ Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he uses to establish the need to request a review of local government boundaries. [41796]

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
Under section 54(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, when making proposals to the Secretary of State, the Local Government Boundary Commission needs to be able to demonstrate that any changes are judged by the Commission to be desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government.
Consequently, the Secretary of State, in considering whether to request a review, will also have regard to any relevant information that could suggest that the existing boundary may no longer provide for effective and convenient local government.
231W
The Secretary of State would give careful consideration to the nature and level of representations from local councils, other elected representatives and the community at large.
Given the diversity of local government areas, each request would be considered on its merit.

§ Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons no letter of reminder was sent to community councils in the Wrexham area following his request to them for their views on the boundary review of Llangollen and Llantysilio wards on 22 August 1997. [41794]

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
On 22 August 1997, consultation letters on the proposed boundary review were sent to all local councils in both counties.
On 28 September 1997, the Denbighshire Association of Local Councils sought an extension of the time allocated for responding to the consultation as it had information that the letter of 22 August had not reached all councils in the country. Community councils in that area were therefore given a further 2 weeks to respond.
No representations were received then or since from community councils in the Wrexham area to indicate that they had not received the consultation letter or been denied the opportunity to make representations before the Secretary of State announced his decision in February 1998.
Responses to the consultation from individuals and organisations received up to February 1998 were taken into account by the Secretary of State in reaching his decision on this matter.