A LENGTHY debate saw much wrangling over potential boundary changes for council elections in Ceredigion.

The Boundary Commission is carrying out a review of consistency areas and the numbers of representatives per ward with Ceredigion potentially seeing a cut from 42 councillors to 38.

Ceredigion is the first area to undergo review after the previous Boundary Commission examination was halted by the then cabinet secretary in 2016.

Changes would be put in place before the 2022 local elections with proposals based on the commission’s ideal ratio of voters to councillors as 1: 1,384.

A draft response was brought to a special full council meeting for discussion with a number of amendments being put forward by councillors.

How Aberystwyth will be represented caused much debate and an amendment was made by Ceredig Davies with its approval resulting in an extra councillor in the area rather than the proposed cut of one.

He was not in favour of the proposal to combine Aberystwyth Bronglais with the town’s central and north wards but agreed that it should be combined with Llanbadarn Fawr Padarn and Llanbadarn Fawr Sulien, with an additional member included.

A further objection to the moving of Blaenpennal ward to Tregaron was made by Cllr Ifan Davies, who called for the council to “set a benchmark and say ‘no this is not what we want’. We want to stay as 42.”

Cllr Davies, who represents Lledrod ward which currently includes Blaenpennal, referred to Welsh Assembly members, stating: “They want to reduce our numbers and increase their own. We have to answer to our electors in Ceredigion.”

He argued that the council would not be listened to anyway so it should be left to the commission.

As each ward was discussed a solution to the increase in one councillor was suggested by Cllr Lyndon Lloyd who proposed an amendment to Beulah and Llangoedmor.

Cllr Lloyd argued that the response suggested included two rural wards with two councillors contrary to previous agreements that such areas would be represented by single members.

He suggested keeping Beulah as one ward, with one councillor, doing the same in Aberporth and then combining Llangoedmor with Y Ferwig, with one councillor. This would reduce the number of councillors in that larger area to three from four, balancing the figures.

Cardigan would see a reduction in one councillor, as would Lampeter.