2022 Ceredigion County Council election

Council elections in Wales were originally scheduled for May 2021, but were delayed to avoid a conflict with the 2021 Senedd election. The frequency of the elections was also increased from 4 years to five years to avoid future clashes, meaning (after 2022) the next council election is expected in 2027.

The number of councillors has been decreased by 4 after the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales recommended the change in a report in May 2019.[1] The number of wards has also been decreased to 34 from 40.[2]

The Plaid Cymru group in conjunction with Independent group has been in control of the council since 2012. Ellen ap Gwynn has been the leader of the council and leader of the Plaid Cymru group in the council since 2012, but she will be stepping back from that role after the elections. Bryan Davies, the County Councillor for Llannarth was chosen as the successor of ap Gwynn and leader of the Plaid Cymru group.[3]

In August 2021 Welsh Government accepted a number of ward change proposals by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, with slight modifications on Welsh language names for some wards. These took effect from the 2022 council election. The changes gave a better parity of representation. 4 wards; Aberystwyth Penparcau, Aberystwyth Morlais a Glais, Beulah and Llangoedmor and Aberporth and Y Ferwig will be electing 2 councillors. 19 current wards will see no change under these reforms.[4]

• The existing Rhyd-y-Fuwch and Teifi wards in the town of Cardigan were merged to create a single electoral ward named Cardigan-Teifi.
• The existing Aberporth ward was merged with the community of y Ferwig (previously in the Llangoedmor ward) to create a new two-member electoral ward named Aberporth and Y Ferwig.
• The existing Beulah ward was merged with the community of Llangoedmor to create a new two-member electoral ward named Beulah and Llangoedmor.
• The Capel Dewi and Trefol wards in the community of Llandysul were merged to create a new electoral ward named Llandysul South.
• The existing Troedyraur ward was combined with the Pontshaen and Tregroes wards of the community of Llandysul to create a new electoral ward named Llandysul North and Troedyraur.
• The existing New Quay ward was combined with the community of Llanllwchaearn to create a new electoral ward named New Quay and Llanllwchaearn.
• The communities of Llandysiliogogo and Llangrannog were combined to create a new electoral ward named Llandysilio and Llangrannog.
• The existing Penbryn ward was replaced by a new ward of the same name comprising only the community of Penbryn.
• The existing Aberaeron ward was combined with the LLanddewi Aberarth ward of the community of Dyffryn Arth to create a new electoral ward named Aberaeron and Aberarth.
• The existing Llansanffraid ward was replaced by a ward of the same name comprising the community of Llansanffraid and the Llanbadarn Trefeglwys ward of the community of Dyffryn Arth.
• The existing Lampeter ward continues with the same boundaries but with one councillor rather than two.

A total of 86 candidates are standing for the 38 seats on the council (an average of 2.3 candidates per seat). Six political parties are standing candidates in this election, plus 27 independent candidates.

Five candidates (two independent, one Plaid Cymru, one Liberal Democrat, one Labour) were the only candidates in their ward, and were thus returned unopposed without an election taking place.

Five uncontested results were announced on 6 April 2022.[5] Further, Plaid Cymru are guaranteed to win at least one seat in 'Aberporth and Y Ferwig' ward. Results for the remaining 32 seats will be announced in the days following the election on 5 May 2022.

* = sitting councillor in this ward prior to election