The Assembly constituency of Caerphilly could be merged with Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney under proposals presented to the Welsh Assembly.
Islwyn has also been recommended to merge with Blaenau Gwent as part of a plan to boost the number of Assembly Members.
The independent Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform recommends the formation of 20 new Welsh Assembly multi-member constituencies, with each electing at least four AMs each.
The panel, chaired by Cardiff University’s Professor Laura McAllister, has recommended that the Assembly increase in size to 90 members, following the conclusion that AMs are currently “underpowered and overworked”.
Many of the members sit on more than one of the Assembly’s 14 committees, an anomaly when compared to other parliaments around the world.
The report found that Assembly Members are struggling to juggle constituency duties and an increasing committee workload.
It is estimated that 30 additional members would cost a further £9.6 million annually.
Speaking at the report’s launch last month, Professor McAllister stated: “Democracy does cost money, but good scrutiny pays for itself and it can be seen by and benefit citizens and communities across Wales.”
In line with the increase in members, an alternative voting system has been proposed, with Single Transferable Vote (STV) the preferred option. STV asks voters to rank candidates in order of preference, with multiple members elected representing the proportional vote of the constituency.
This differs to the current Welsh Assembly voting system where both a constituency and regional list is presented on the ballot paper in what is known as Additional Member System.
Any move toward implementation would rely on a consensus amongst the political parties in the Welsh Assembly.
Hefin David AM for Caerphilly said: “The number of Assembly Members is not a major concern for me and isn’t raised very often by constituents.
“However, I think we do need to ask ourselves: will a greater degree of scrutiny improve our laws and the overall quality of government in Wales? I think it will. If a modest increase in the number of AMs helps us to achieve that, then it’s something that has to be seriously considered.”
A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives also welcomed the report, adding: “Any changes to our Parliament and democratic processes must benefit the people of Wales and bring value for money for the taxpayer.
“It is with these principles in mind that we’ll now be carefully considering the report and its recommendations.”
As I have said before there is no problem having extra members so long as the total salary and expenses bill remains the same. As each member would have less work to do I think this is perfectly reasonable. In the big wide world this is called a ‘cost neutral’ solution and is very common.
Perhaps we could start with a work study team from industry to minutely examine the work each AM does?
I wholeheartedly agree with your first point – we cannot accept more beauraucrats at additional expense.
I also agree with your second point and think the results would be very interesting !
To add to what I wrote I am available to stand as one of the extra AMs. I am literate, highly numerate, a graduate, a reasonably competent public speaker and have forty years experience working in Welsh industry and retail. I will undertake this work for a salary of a mere £45k per annum. Don’t suppose anyone will be telephoning me with an offer though…!
A noble gesture Richard – the only problem I can see is that compared to some existing AM’s you would be over qualified and most likely put many to shame !
You would have my vote for sure
Thanks for your support, as I said I don’t suppose I will be getting any offers of candidacy though!
The above discussion of STV is erroneous. If there are four seats and each party runs four candidates then the party that gets the most votes (especially if over 50%) will get all four seats as most people will block vote their top 4 preferences to the same party. There is nothing proportional about that.
Spot on, you can do the maths Ian, the people that advocate this know that many people can’t and sell this as being ‘fair.’ I think that the ‘AV plus’ system that was proposed for Westminster elections (a few years ago) is actually superior to STV, provided that the electorate is voting for one candidate in a single seat.
That sounds like the Eu, it’s not working so let’s have more of it.
That’s the long and short of it, there are a lot of very highly paid positions available to a particular clique, both in the EU and Senedd. Both institutions want more of this.
My prediction is that the number of AMs will increase and their salaries will rise well above any measure of inflation. I voted for the formation of the Welsh Assembly, which was the worst voting decision I ever made. If I am given the chance to vote for its abolition I would do so. We live and learn.
My sentiments too.
I was also taken in by TonyB-Liar and voted him and his pet Senedd into power.
Never again.