REVIEW OF COMMUNITY REVIEW OF COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES IN THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF RHONDDA CYNON TAFF
REPORT AND PROPOSALS
APPENDIX C
Summary of Representations Received in Response to the Draft Proposals
PONT-Y-CLUN / LLANHARAN / LLANTRISANT
Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council supported the proposal that Ynysddu and Pant y Dderwen be transferred into Pont-y-clun from the Communities of Llanharan and Llantrisant. However, they proposed an alternative boundary which would transfer a small additional area to the north west of Pant y Dderwen from Llantrisant into Pont-y-clun but leave much of the area to the east of Pant y Dderwen, including Y Pant School, still within the boundary of Llantrisant. They also proposed an additional change to the boundary between Llanharan and Llantrisant to transfer some properties on Lanelay Road from Llanharan into Llantrisant. In respect of proposals for changes to the electoral arrangements the Council agreed that the number of Councillors for Pont-y-clun Community Council should be increased by 1 to 11. They disagreed with the proposal that the number of Councillors for Llanharan Community Council should be reduced by 1 to 13 because of proposed residential development in the community ward of Brynna. The Council agreed that the electoral arrangements for the Community of Llantrisant should remain unchanged.
Pont-y-clun Community Council supported the draft proposals made by the Commission in respect to its neighbouring community councils. The Council agreed with the proposal that the change to the boundary should result in an increase in councillor representation. They considered however that as the only means of access to the new residential development (in the Cefnyrhendy Ward) is through the Miskin Ward it is this Ward that should see an increase in the number of councillors rather than the Cefnyrhendy Ward. In a further representation the Council suggested that the boundary between the Cefn yr Hendy and Miskin Wards of the Community needs to reflect the boundary of the new and old residential developments. To the east of the boundary would lie the enlarged Miskin Ward to include the new residential development. To the west of the boundary would lie the existing Cefn yr Hendy Ward.
Llanharan Community Council re-affirmed its original view that the Ynysddu estate should transfer from Llanharan into Pont-y-clun. The council however opposed the proposal to reduce the number of members for the Brynna Ward from 6 to 5 (with the Council reducing from 14 to 13 members) and requested that the number of councillors remain unchanged. The Council considered that the population of the Brynna Ward would increase substantially over the next two years with planning consents for 136 new houses having been approved in the area. They also pointed to ten sites in the area having been identified by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council for possible future residential development.
A resident of Llanharan supported the transfer of Ynysddu from Llanharan to Pont-y-clun because the residents had voted in favour of the suggestion.
LLANHARRY / PONT-Y-CLUN
Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council supported the proposed change to the boundary between the Community of Pont-y-clun and the Community of Llanharry to transfer Clos Brenin from the Tyle-garw Ward of Llanharry into the Maes-y-felin Ward of Pont-y-clun. In respect of the proposal to transfer the Elms Farm and adjacent housing estate from Pont-y-clun into Llanharry the Council agreed the proposal but would prefer that the proposed boundary be extended to include the small area of housing at Castell-y-Mwnws and Llwyna Farm as illustrated on the map at Appendix F.
Llanharry Community Council supported the draft proposal for the inclusion of a small area of housing at Castell-y-Mwnws to be transferred from the Community of Pont-y-clun into the Community of Llanharry.
Pont-y-clun Community Council supported the proposal to adjust the boundary between the Communities of Pont-y-clun and Llanharry so that the new residential development at Elms Farm is totally within the Community of Llanharry. However, they objected to the suggestion that the settlement at Castell-y-Mwnws be also transferred from their community into Llanharry. They had conducted a survey of the 13 dwelling in Castell-y-Mwnws and received 9 replies all stating that they wished to stay in the Community of Pont-y-clun.
A resident of Llanharan considered that the transfer of Tyle-garw from Llanharry to Pont-y-clun was reasonable and that it made common sense to transfer Clos Brenin from Llanharry to Pont-y-clun as the residents made use of the facilities in the Pont-y-clun Community. He also noted the proposal regarding Castell-y-Mwnws and suggested the occupants should be given the opportunity to vote on the suggestion.
HIRWAUN /PEN-Y-WAUN
Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council disagreed with the Commission's proposed boundary change between Hirwaun and Pen-y-waun and the subsequent change to the current electoral arrangements. The Council supported Hirwaun Community Council's concerns that "the proposals are detrimental to the Community and contain no merit in that the residents of Trenant and Trewaun would lose some of the benefits that they enjoy at present if the proposed changes go ahead. Also, that it would be impossible to fund the level and type of benefits that are presently provided under the Communities First Programme and the Council's precept, even allowing for the increase in the amount of precept that the additional dwellings would provide". Further the Council supported the concern of Local members that the reduction in the number of Penderyn members could undermine the representation of Penderyn within the Community Council and therefore its role and influence. They considered that the proposal to de-ward the Community Council would remove the guarantee of representation of Penderyn within the Community Council as members could come from anywhere in Hirwaun and Penderyn. As Hirwaun is much the larger element there would be a possible scenario of 14 members from Hirwaun thus championing its interests rather than Penderyn.
Hirwaun and Penderyn Community Council considered the Commission's suggested changes in the light of information they received from the Communities First Organiser for the Penywaun and Trenant areas. They considered that the proposed change would see the residents of Trenant and Trewaun lose some of the benefits that they enjoy at present. They considered that it would be impossible to fund the level and type of benefits that are presently provided under the Communities First Programme from the Council's precept, even allowing for the increase in the amount of precept that the additional dwellings would provide. They considered that they would either have to decrease the benefits that the areas receive at present or to increase the precept for the whole area accordingly, or a combination of both. They considered that the proposals were detrimental to the Community and they found it impossible see any merit in them.