The Welsh Liberal Democrat Group on Powys County Council has urged the Council to strongly oppose a proposed reduction in the number of members of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) from the current 24 to 18.

The Welsh Government has issued a public consultation on its proposals and Powys County Council’s ruling Cabinet debated the issue at its meeting yesterday.

Addressing the Cabinet, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader of the Welsh Lib Dem Group and Leader of the Opposition on the Council, said, “The council should strongly oppose these proposals, on a number of grounds, but the main issue is the lack of democratic accountability:-

* 80% of area of the Brecon Beacons National Park lies within Powys, due to the fact the Park area does cover parts of 9 local authority areas, only 1/3 of the BBNPA members are from Powys – reducing the county’s entitlement from 8 to 6 members would further reduce already poor levels of democratic representation in the Park area

* Despite the fact that the Environment Act, which set up the BBNPA as a free-standing authority, requires that priority should be given to appointing local councillors from wards within or partly within the National Park area, the Welsh Government’s requirement that ‘political balance’ is also protected means that some Powys members have previously and currently represent wards from well outside the Park – reducing to six would make this situation potentially worse.”

Councillor John Morris, who represents Crickhowell, one of the largest communities within the Park area added, “It is vital that councillors who represent constituents living in the Park are involved in the decision-making and direction of the BBNPA. This proposed reduction in membership will make it less representative of the people who live and work in the Park and should be opposed.”

“There is a strong argument to be made to increase Powys’s representation on the BBNPA and I am pleased that the Powys Cabinet appears to be sympathetic to our Group’s arguments. I hope that the Council’s formal response reflects our concerns”