What could be the new electoral map of Anglesey has been unveiled amid calls for another five county councillors.

Anglesey currently has the fewest number of county councillors in the whole of Wales, having seen its numbers cut from 40 to 30 after a major shake up in 2011 during a period under the control of Welsh Government appointed commissioners.

But amid an ongoing review into its electoral arrangements by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission, a report put together by a cross-section of councillors recommends an increase in members to 35 from the next elections in 2022.

In line with this increase its also proposed that the 11 current multi-member wards should be carved up into 14 electoral districts – although “disappointment” has also been expressed that Anglesey remains the only authority in Wales where more traditional single-member wards have been scrapped.

The final decision will be up to the independent Wales-wide commission but it’s own formula acknowledges that based on the island’s population, the  island is currently under-represented.

Merthyr Tydfil, despite having 10,000 fewer residents , currently has 33 members while Blaenau Gwent, which has almost the exact same population as Anglesey, has 42 councillors sitting in its chamber – although it is recommended that their numbers should also be slashed to 33.

The panel of councillors, having now released their findings, noted that increasing the membership to 35 is “necessary”, “bearing in mind current workload of councillors.”

“The panel supports the concept of continuing with the multi member wards introduced in 2013,” notes the report, while acknowledging that the commission’s own view that the number of members should not exceed 33.

“However, it wishes to express disappointment on the clear lack of consistency in applying such an universal model of multi member wards in other reviews conducted already by the Commission, since commencement of the review programme for all 22 authorities.

“The county council’s electoral arrangements are unique in Wales as this is the only authority where all wards are multi-member.”

The panel’s recommendations are set to be discussed by the authority’s Democratic Services Committee on Wednesday, but the main proposals include:

The community of Llangristiolus should be moved from Bro Rhosyr to create a new two member ward known as “Cefni,” including the town of Llangefni which would be taken out of Canolbarth .

The remaining Bro Rhosyr ward would be renamed “Braint” to reflect local geography.

Splitting the existing three-member Caergybi ward into two new two-member wards to be known as “Tref Cybi” and “Parc a’r Mynydd.”

Scrapping the two-member Llifon ward, replacing it with a new two-member ward known as “Crigyll,” consisting of Trewalchmai, Bryngwran and Llanfaelog and another two-member ward including the communities of Caergeiliog, Y Fali and Bodedern, known as “Bro’r Llynnoedd.”

According to the Boundary Commssion’s timetable, a final recommendation for Anglesey is expected to be published in early 2021 ahead of the 2022 local elections.

Anglesey Council proposals:

Ward

Number of Members

Electors (August 2019)

 Ratio

Aethwy

3

5064

1688

Bro Aberffraw

2

2977

1498

Braint

2

2712

1356

Parc a’r Mynydd

2

2515

1257

Tref Cybi

2

2799

1399

Canolbarth Môn

3

3889

1296

Cefni

2

2398

1199

Crigyll

2

2558

1279

Bro’r Llynnoedd

2

3634

1817

Lligwy

3

4753

1584

Seiriol

3

4600

1533

Talybolion

3

3869

1289

Twrcelyn

3

5399

1799

Ynys Gybi

3

4338

1446