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| Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Title | Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 |
| Enacted by | Senedd |
| Territorial extent | Wales |
| Royal assent | 2021 |
| Status | Current |
Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 is an Act of the Senedd that reformed electoral arrangements, council governance, and local government accountability in Wales. It followed earlier statutory reforms such as the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 and built on policy developments from the Welsh Government under the leadership of Mark Drakeford. The Act interacts with institutions including Electoral Commission, Boundary Commission for Wales, and local authorities such as Cardiff Council, Swansea Council, and Powys County Council.
The Act emerged from the Welsh Government’s programme following the 2016 United Kingdom general election and the 2019 United Kingdom general election, reflecting commitments in the 2016 Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and debates at the Wales Audit Office. Consultation documents drew on practice in Scotland and Northern Ireland and responses from bodies including Local Government Association, Welsh Local Government Association, and the Association of Electoral Administrators. Ministers including Julie James advanced draft Bills through the Senedd where committees such as the Senedd Finance Committee and the Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee scrutinised provisions. The Royal Assent completed the parliamentary process in 2021 after consideration alongside UK-wide instruments like the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.
Major measures included statutory duties for councils to adopt corporate governance arrangements akin to those in ISO management frameworks, requirements for regular governance reviews referencing standards used by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and strengthened performance reporting similar to mechanisms used by the Scotland Act 2016 devolved institutions. The Act introduced mandatory codes on ethical standards that engage bodies such as the Standards Committees and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Provisions affecting electoral administration required coordination with the Electoral Commission and structural input from the Boundary Commission for Wales.
The Act reformed electoral systems at the local level by enabling optional electoral pilots akin to experiments seen in London and referencing models from the Local Government Act 2000 era, while mandating changes to voter ID arrangements in line with debates in the UK Parliament. It provided for changes to electoral cycle timing and for new rules on voter registration paralleling practices promoted by the Electoral Registration Officers and examples from the Representation of the People Act 1983. The legislation also addressed electoral administration resilience drawing on recommendations from inquiries such as those following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.
Provisions strengthened council governance by requiring statements of strategic priorities similar to planning requirements in the Planning (Wales) Act and better alignment with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The Act mandated performance assessments comparable to systems used by the WAO and created requirements for councillor standards and conduct that intersect with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and the Standards Commission for Scotland's approaches. It introduced duties on best value reflective of practices in the Local Government Act 1999 and improved transparency measures that echo provisions from the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applied in Welsh contexts.
Implementation required coordination between the Welsh Government, Electoral Commission, and local elections teams in principal councils such as Newport City Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Transitional provisions scheduled staged compliance, with statutory guidance prepared by ministers similar to guidance produced after the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011. Funding and training arrangements referenced partnership models used by the IDeA and workforce measures echoed in frameworks from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Responses came from political parties including Welsh Labour, Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, and Liberal Democrats, and from stakeholders such as the WLGA and civil society groups including Electoral Reform Society (Wales). Academic commentary from scholars at Cardiff University, Bangor University, and Swansea University assessed effects on representation, with comparative references to devolution debates in the Scotland Act 1998 and post‑devolution governance. The Welsh Government reported on initial outcomes while auditors such as the Wales Audit Office examined performance and compliance.
The Act interfaces with subsequent Welsh statutes including amendments to the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 and interacts with UK-wide law such as the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Elections Act 2022. Ongoing developments in electoral administration and local governance continue to be informed by reports from institutions like the Electoral Commission, the Boundary Commission for Wales, and investigative work by the Senedd Public Accounts Committee.
Category:Acts of the Senedd