PROPOSALS to increase the number of Welsh Assembly Members could see the Vale of Glamorgan constituency paired with Bridgend, in one of two potential adaptations under consideration.

An independent report released on Tuesday, December 12, recommended reforming both the number of AMs in the Senedd as well as the format in which they represent their constituents.

At present there are 60 AMs making up the Welsh Assembly, which consists of 40 members representing individual constituencies and a further 20 who are allocated by region. Under new plans, regional AMs would be scrapped entirely, while the number of constituencies would be halved and allocated between four and six representatives each.

Both recommendations would see the number of AMs increased to between 80 and 90.

The report determined that, with an increasing number of powers being devolved to Wales, more AMs were needed in order for the Welsh Assembly to fulfil its role effectively.

The preferred restructuring model would see five AMs represent the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend as a single constituency. Cardiff South and Penarth would be joined by Cardiff Central and would also have five.

An alternative proposal would see the number of constituencies cut to just 17, with the Vale remaining independent from Bridgend and having either three or four representatives. Under this plan, Penarth, Sully and Dinas Powys would be paired with the rest of the Vale, rather than Cardiff South.

Other recommendations made in the report include amending the voting system to a Single Transferable Vote (STV) model, whereby voters select candidates in order of preference.

Lowering the voting age to 16 and legislating a 50-50 gender balance in the Senedd have also been proposed.

The Wales Governance Centre’s Professor Laura McAllister, who led the report, said the recommendations would: “ensure that the Assembly has the number of members it needs to effectively represent the people and communities it serves, hold the Welsh Government to account, and be a parliament that truly works for Wales now and in the future.”

Ms McAllister conceded that calling for an increase in the number of politicians would likely prove unpopular with some, but said the Assembly needed to do so to cope with its mounting responsibilities.

“The panel believes that, as its powers increase, the Assembly cannot continue as it is without risking its ability to deliver effectively,” she said.

“There is no good time to remedy this. However, if this is not done now, the Assembly will continue to be undersized, presenting a risk to its ability to deliver for the people it serves.”

The report is based on the assumption that the changes will take effect in 2021, however this is likely to be too soon for the proposals to be passed into legislation.

A ‘supermajority’ of two thirds would be required to approve the reform in any Senedd vote.