Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011

The aim of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (‘the Measure’) is to strengthen the structures and working of local government in Wales to ensure that local councils reach out to engage with all sectors of the communities they serve.

The main objectives of the Measure are to:

broaden and increase participation in local government by permitting steps which will help remove barriers and disincentives to standing for election to local councils;
enable the review and improvement of the governance structures introduced through the Local Government Act 2000 so that they better suit the circumstances of local government in Wales;
enhance the role of non-executive (“backbench”) local authority councillors in the scrutiny of local services;
develop and strengthen the role of community councils in Wales, including enabling them to deliver a wider range of services and actions locally as well as to increase the effectiveness of their representational role and their ability to work in partnership with other bodies;
reform the system for setting allowances for councillors; and
allow the Welsh Ministers to issue statutory guidance on collaboration between local authorities, and between them and other bodies.

The Measure also gives powers to the Welsh Ministers to establish new local authorities by amalgamating two or three existing authorities. This power can only be used however if the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that effective local government is not likely to be achieved in one of the local authorities concerned, by the use of its powers to secure continuous improvement and, in some cases, collaboration, between local authorities.

The Explanatory Notes to the Measure provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.

Coming into force

In accordance with section 178 the following provisions came into force on 11 May 2011, the day after the Measure received Royal Approval:

Sections 58, 77, 79, 80 and 159;
Part 10 (except section 176);
Part E of Schedule 4 (and section 176(2) in so far as it relates to Part E of Schedule 4).

The following provisions came into force at the end of the two-month period following Royal Approval (in other words on 10 July 2011);

Parts 3 and 4;
Sections 55 and 76;
Chapters 2 to 9 of Part 7;
Parts B and C of Schedule 4 (and section 176(2) in so far as it relates to Parts B and C of Schedule 4).

The following Orders have also been made:

Subordinate legislation made under the Measure

Title	Citation number	Made date	Coming into force date	Supporting documents
The Local Election Survey (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022	2022 No. 220 (W. 70)	3 March 2022	28 March 2022	Explanatory Memorandum
The Family Absence for Members of Local Authorities (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021	2021 No. 243 (W. 63)	3 March 2021	1 April 2021	Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Election Survey (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016	2016 No. 1220 (W. 291)	13 December 2016	6 January 2017	Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (Modification of Enactments and other Provisions) Order 2013	2013 No. 3005 (W. 297)	27 November 2013	27 November 2013	Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Authorities (Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2013	2013 No. 1050 (W. 112)	30 April 2013	24 May 2013	Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Election Survey (Wales) Regulations 2012	2012 No. 685 (W. 93)	4 March 2012	31 March 2012	Explanatory Memorandum

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

The Measure was introduced on 12 July 2010 by Carl Sargeant AM, the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government at the time. The Measure was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as the National Assembly for Wales) on 15 March 2011.

More information about the Measure is available on the Senedd website including a record of the passage of the Measure through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised after Stage 2).

The Measure received Royal Approval on 10 May 2011.