The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order, presented to His Majesty in Council on December 10, 2025, exercises powers under the Government of Wales Act 2006 to amend Schedule 9A, which lists devolved Welsh authorities.
It officially removes the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales from the list, inserting the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru in their place, reflecting prior legislative changes concerning electoral bodies and remuneration functions in Wales, and takes effect on January 8, 2026.
Arguments For
Provides necessary legislative housekeeping following recent Welsh legislation, ensuring consistency in defining devolved Welsh authorities.
Streamlines governance by transferring functions from the abolished Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales to the newly named Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
Formalizes the renaming of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, reflecting its current operational identity.
Implements changes mandated by the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 and the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024, thereby ensuring legal conformity.
Arguments Against
The necessity of making this amendment relies entirely on the preceding Acts passed in 2024, implying a potentially reactive legislative process.
Changes to the statutory list of devolved authorities may require consequential updates across other pieces of related legislation not immediately evidenced here.
Abolishing a dedicated panel for remuneration (Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales) centralizes functions, which could potentially lead to concerns about the independence or focus of the receiving body.
The order comes into force shortly after its date of issue, potentially limiting time for affected bodies to fully integrate the structural identification changes.
At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of December 2025
Present,
The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council
His Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 157A(5) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 , is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order as follows:
This section establishes the authority and setting for the Order.
Proceedings took place at Buckingham Palace on December 10, 2025, before the King in Council.
The King issues this Order by using powers granted under section 157A(5) of the Government of Wales Act 2006, acting on the recommendation of the Privy Council.
- Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Order may be cited as the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2025.
This section provides the official title for this legislation as the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2025.
(2) An amendment made by this Order has the same extent as the provision amended.
The amendments contained within this Order apply to the exact same geographic or administrative areas as the specific parts of the Government of Wales Act 2006 they are modifying.
(3) This Order comes into force on 8th January 2026.
This Order officially becomes legally effective on January 8, 2026.
- Amendment of Schedule 9A to the Government of Wales Act 2006
In Schedule 9A to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (devolved Welsh authorities)—
This main clause directs changes specifically to Schedule 9A of the Government of Wales Act 2006, which outlines which bodies are recognized as devolved Welsh authorities.
(a) omit—
“The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales or Panel Annibynnol Cymru ar Gydnabyddiaeth Ariannol.”;
This item mandates the removal of the listing for 'The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales' and its Welsh translation from Schedule 9A.
(b) omit—
“The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales or Comisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru.”;
This item requires removing the entry for 'The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales' and its Welsh translation from the list maintained in Schedule 9A.
(c) after the entry for “A county council, county borough council or community council in Wales” insert—
“The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru or Comisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru.”
This instruction requires inserting the new body, 'The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru' (and its Welsh name), immediately following the entries for local councils within Schedule 9A.
Richard Tilbrook
Clerk of the Privy Council
This officially concludes the Order, citing Richard Tilbrook as the Clerk of the Privy Council who countersigned the decree.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends Schedule 9A to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) (“the 2006 Act”) and comes into force on 8th January 2026.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the instrument modifies Schedule 9A of the 2006 Act and confirms its commencement date of January 8, 2026.
The note itself does not constitute part of the legally binding Order.
Article 2 amends Schedule 9A to the 2006 Act in consequence of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4) and the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5). The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales is renamed the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru by section 12 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024. Section 56 of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 abolishes the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, and section 57 confers its functions relating to remuneration on the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
This explains that the amendments are a direct result of two previous Acts passed in 2024 concerning Senedd elections and wider elected bodies in Wales.
Specifically, the name change cited in Article 2(c) results from Section 12 of the Senedd Cymru Act.
Furthermore, the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales is abolished under the Elections and Elected Bodies Act, with its remuneration duties moved to the newly named Commission.
Schedule 9A to the 2006 Act specifies a list of devolved Welsh authorities. This Order removes the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales from that list and inserts the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
Schedule 9A defines which bodies fall under the designation of devolved Welsh authorities.
This Order executes the substitution by removing the two specified bodies and adding the new consolidated body to that list.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary, or public sector is foreseen.
The regulatory body determined that a formal impact assessment was unnecessary for this instrument because it is expected to have minimal or no significant effect on the private, voluntary, or public sectors.