A Gwynedd Councillor has claimed that a delay in ratifying council ward changes may have a harmful effect on the diversity of candidates.
The next Council Elections are due to be held in May 2022, and the approved Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales’ recommendations for Gwynedd will see the number of Gwynedd councillors falling by six.
Bangor is set to lose 4 councillors as a result of the Boundary Commission’s changes, a move that Councillor Catrin Wager and colleagues have criticised.
Cllr Wager, who represents Menai ward in Bangor, claims that the Ministers’ delay in ratifying changes may have a knock-on effect on the diversity of councillors.
She said: “The initial changes to Gwynedd’s boundaries, despite being proposed in mid-2018, were ratified just six months before the elections are due to be held in 2022.
“I’m concerned that the delay in formalising the changes may directly impact the diversity of the candidates that will stand in next year’s elections.
“Not giving people sufficient time to consider something that completely alters your day-to-day life is unfair.
“Let’s consider the situation we’re in. There are 54 per cent more male councillors than there are female councillors. The percentage of men in the 45-65 age range elected in the 2017 election increased by 18.18 per cent. Female councillors fell by almost five per cent, and there isn’t a single member of the council younger than 30.
“But very often, individuals that fit these demographic profiles are the ones that can’t afford to decide at the drop of a hat to stand for election.
“Myself, for example, as a mother with day-to-day parenting responsibilities. Choosing to stand in 2017 wasn’t a decision I took lightly.
“A lot of young people face uncertain employment, high housing costs and may well have student loans to pay off. Making a spontaneous decision to stand for election often just isn’t possible.
“There are challenges facing women, young people, and other marginalised communities, that simply don’t affect middle-aged men that might be retired, semi-retired, or financially well-off, for example.
“I’m part of a team who are organising an event that specifically aims to encourage women to stand for election in Gwynedd next year.
“We need council candidates that reflect our society as a whole, and I desperately urge local women to attend the event and register by following this link.”
