A SURPRISE document has emerged from Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) advising of suggested boundary changes within the present structure of community councils across Monmouthshire.If the recommendations put forward by the Local Democracy and Boundaries Commission are accepted by the Welsh Government, this would be the most radical shake-up of community councils seen in living memory.

Two community councils - Llantilio Crosenny and Llangattock-vibon-avel - will disappear entirely and two new community councils of Whitecastle and Skenfrith will share the spoils from the present wards.The review of boundaries is suggesting Skenfrith be made a new community council of seven councillors with three wards and Whitecastle will have 10 councillors and six wards.

Under the proposals, Monmouth Town Council will go from 16 councillors to 19, but will lose the Dixton with Osbaston ward and have a new ward of Osbaston. Town ward would rise from one to four councillors with much of Dixton transferred into its ward.

Raglan will drop from 11 to nine, losing Pen-y-clawdd ward and gaining new Gwehelog and Kincoed wards.

Proposals for Tintern will see the present four wards reduced to two, Llandogo and Tintern, and fall from the present eight councillors to seven.

Chepstow would gain four councillors and three new wards, but lose St Mary’s. Magor with Undy would drop from its present 13 councillors to 10 with all four present wards to be scrapped in favour of three new ones; Magor East, Magor West and Undy.

Caldicot Town Council would lose two councillors gain two new wards, but lose Green Lane under proposals by MCC.

Councillor Desmond Pugh, representing the Skenfrith ward said that this document was "strangely familiar" to one he submitted revisions to in 2014. "I can see a number of councillors standing down if these proposals are accepted by the Welsh Government as this tinkering with boundaries that have worked well for many years, is just another example of spending money for no good reason" he added.

"We sit voluntarily on the council to serve our community and see areas of service such as roads, drains and verge cutting continually pared to the bone, then to see money and resources thrown at such an unneccessary re-arrangement of council boundaries will be the tipping point for some".

Assembly member Nick Ramsay is seeking a meeting with Usk Town Council to discuss councillors’ objection to proposals to reduce the number of councillors from 12 to seven.The council claims that the recommendation put forward makes "no sense" at a time when town and community councils are having to take on many of the non-statutory duties normally provided by MCC.In addition to council business, Usk town councillors undertake a number of other duties including the management of the town’s historic Sessions House and supporting Usk in Bloom, which has won worldwide acclaim.

The council is also involved in developing a plan for Future Usk, which will look at a range of issues including traffic management and the future of the high street. Following the closure of all the banks in Usk and the prospect of losing the Post Office, Usk Town Council has also been very proactive in securing a Post Office for residents in the town.

Sympathising with the council’s concerns, Mr Ramsay said: "Understandably, there is a lot of anxiety about the proposed changes."

MCC will be reconvening its working group with representatives from each political party and finalising proposals based on the feedback received at the previous consultation stage. The members of the group are Val Smith (Independent), Richard John (Conservative), Dave Evans (Labour), Jez Becker (Lib Dem).

Any representations concerning the matters in this report should be addressed to the Welsh Government. These should be submitted no later than 11th March. Representations should be sent to: Local Government Democracy Team Democracy, Diversity and Remuneration Division Welsh Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ Or emailed to: [email protected] full documents can be read here:  https://goo.gl/Jyt11J