Local Government and Housing Act 1989

6 After section 245 (status of certain districts, parishes and communities) there shall be inserted the following section—

“245A Power for borough and town councils in Wales to adopt Welsh language form of their descriptions, etc

(1) If and so long as this subsection is in force in relation to a district in Wales which, by virtue of section 245(1) above, has the status of a borough or for which, by virtue of section 245(4) above, the style of borough may be used—

(a) the council shall bear the name “Cyngor Bwrdeistref” instead of “Council of the Borough” or “Borough Council”;

(b) the chairman of the council shall be entitled to the style “maer” instead of “mayor”; and

(c) the vice-chairman of the council shall be entitled to the style “dirprwy faer” instead of “deputy mayor”.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, subsection (1) above shall come into force in relation to a district which has the status of a borough, or for which the style of borough may be used, three months after the day on which, at a specially convened meeting of the council, it is resolved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting that the Welsh language form of the council’s description shall be used.

(3) A resolution under subsection (2) above may be passed by the council of a district in Wales notwithstanding that, at the time it is passed, the council does not have the status of a borough; but, if a resolution is passed at such a time, subsection (1) above shall not come into force unless, nor earlier than, the status of a borough is conferred on the district by virtue of section 245(1) above.

(4) Subsection (1) above shall cease to be in force in relation to a district which has the status of a borough, or for which the style of borough may be used, three months after the day on which, at a specially convened meeting of the council, it is resolved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting that the Welsh language form of the council’s description shall cease to be used.

(5) If and so long as this subsection is in force in relation to a community which, by virtue of section 245(6) above, has the status of a town—

(a) the council shall bear the name “Cyngor Tref” instead of “council of the town” or “town council”;

(b) the chairman of the council shall be entitled to the style “maer y dref” instead of “town mayor”; and

(c) the vice-chairman of the council shall be entitled to the style “dirprwy faer y dref” instead of “deputy town mayor”.

(6) Subsection (5) above shall come into force in relation to a community which has the status of a town three months after the day on which, at a specially convened meeting of the council, it is resolved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting that the Welsh language form of the council’s description shall be used.

(7) Subsection (5) above shall cease to be in force in relation to a community which has the status of a town three months after the day on which, at a specially convened meeting of the council, it is resolved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting that the Welsh language form of the council’s description shall cease to be used.

(8) Subsection (10) of section 245 above has effect in relation to this section as it has effect in relation to the foregoing provisions of that section.”