THE Vale of Glamorgan’s ward boundaries are set to be redrawn as the council will increase in size by seven more councillors.

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales is proposing several changes to the electoral map in the Vale, ahead of the next local elections in 2022.

The proposals would see the number of councillors on the Vale council go up from 47 to 54.

Currently some wards are significantly overrepresented while others are underrepresented — meaning the ratio of number of councillors to population size is quite skewed across the region.

The challenge in redrawing the map is to make sure each voter in the Vale is fairly represented. The target number is 1,755 voters for each councillor. The map has been redrawn to make sure each ward gets as close as possible to that target.

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In a newly published report, the commission said: “The commission considered the ratio of local government electors to the number of councillors to be elected, with a view to proposing changes to ensure that the number of local government electors shall be, as near as may be, the same in every ward in the principal area.

“The size and character of the council was also considered as were a wide range of other factors including local topography, road communications and local ties.”

Boundary changes are needed as the local elections next year will be the first to include 16 and 17 year olds, after a bill was passed in the Senedd in November, massively extending who can vote in local elections.

Now that the commission has recommended the changes, the Welsh Government first needs to sign off the proposals before they come into effect.

The proposed changes are as follows.

St Augustine’s in Penarth is currently represented by two councillors, but the ward will gain a third councillor.

Baruc in Barry, currently represented by two councillors, will gain a third councillor. Cadoc in Barry, currently represented by three councillors, will gain a fourth councillor.

St Athan is currently represented by one councillor but would gain a second councillor.

The current Llandow/Ewenny ward includes Colwinston and Llangan, and is represented by one councillor. This ward will lose Ewenny and remain with just one councillor.

The current Llantwit Major ward includes Llanmaes and St Donats and is represented by four councillors. This ward would lose St Donats but remain with four councillors.

The current St Bride’s Major ward includes Wick and is represented by one councillor. This ward would expand to also include Ewenny and St Donats, and gain a second councillor.

The current Peterston-super-Ely ward includes Pendoylan, St Georges-super-Ely and Welsh St Donats, and is represented by one councillor. This ward would lose St Georges-super-Ely and stay with just one councillor.

The current Rhoose ward includes Llancarfan, and is represented by two councillors. This ward would lose Llancarfan, but gain a third councillor.

The current Wenvoe ward includes St Nicholas and Bonvilston, and is represented by one councillor. This ward would lose St Nicholas and Bonvilston, and remain with one councillor.

A new ward would be formed called St Nicholas and Llancarfan, also including Bonvilston and St Georges-super-Ely. This ward would be represented by one councillor.