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The electoral map of Caerphilly County Borough could be redrawn as a review of council ward boundaries gets underway.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is looking at ward boundaries, with a view to ensuring each ward has a roughly equal ratio of residents to councillors.

A consultation has been launched by the commission to gather views of residents and stakeholders before pressing ahead with plans.

The most recent review of Caerphilly council wards was completed before the 2022 council elections, and a community review, looking at the boundaries and electoral arrangements of community and town councils in the county, was completed last year.

As part of its current review, the commission will seek to bring all council ward areas to within 20% of the council average rate of residents to councillors.

Currently, the commission says three of Caerphilly County Borough’s 31 wards fall outside of that range.

However, changes could be made to wards that currently fall within the range, due to the knock-on effects of changing neighbouring wards, or because of potential concerns raised by residents about the existing boundaries.

The commission’s review will also take account of other factors, such as deprivation or rurality, as it develops its proposals.

Initial comments and suggestions can be submitted to the commission until July 22.

After this consultation period, the commission will analyse the responses received and develop its own draft proposals for a new map of council wards.

It will then release its map as part of a second public consultation later this year, giving residents and stakeholders a chance to share their thoughts and suggestions once more.

Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, the commission’s chief executive, said the review “seeks to ensure that people across the county are represented equally, that people’s votes carry the same strength, and that councillors are able to share a more equal workload”.

Ms Williams continued: “The previous electoral review for Caerphilly was the first in several years, meaning that the commission had to recommend significant changes to wards across the county.

“With reviews now happening more regularly, we’re glad to be in a position where the vast majority of wards are already within the target ratio of electors to councillors.”

She added: “There will still be some changes to the map however, so the commission strongly recommends that those with views on the shape of their ward respond to our consultations to make their voices heard.”