Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I am using my powers under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to lay before the National Assembly an Order which changes the year of the ordinary local government elections from the first Thursday in May 2021 to the first Thursday in May 2022.
In June 2016, the then Minister for Finance and Local Government, announced his decision to change the year of the ordinary local government elections from May 2016 to May 2017 so that the local government elections would not coincide with the National Assembly and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
At the present time, the ordinary local government elections in Wales take place on the first Thursday in May every four years. The next elections are scheduled for May 2021. This is also the date for the next elections to the National Assembly for Wales.
The Wales Act 2017 amended the Representation of the People Act 1983 and prevents local government elections from being held on the same day as the ordinary elections to the National Assembly. In such situations the Welsh Ministers are required to change the year of the local government elections by Order.
The Local Authorities (Change to the Year of Ordinary Elections (Wales) Order 2019 does not change the cycle of local government elections. It will only move the next ordinary local government elections by one year from May 2021 to May 2022.
It is the intention of the Welsh Government to bring forward legislation to permanently move the term of office for local government elected members to five years. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill is intended to be introduced in the autumn to provide for this.