The Borough of Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001

Statutory Instruments

2001 No. 4066

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

The Borough of Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001

Made

20th December 2001

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Whereas the Local Government Commission for England, acting pursuant to section 15(4) of the Local Government Act 1992(1), has submitted to the Secretary of State a report dated August 2001 on its review of the borough(2) of Bedford together with its recommendations:

And whereas the Secretary of State has decided to give effect to those recommendations:

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 17(3) and 26 of the Local Government Act 1992, and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Borough of Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001.

(2) This article and articles 2, 3, 8(2), 9 and 10 shall come into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary, or relating, to any election to be held on 2nd May 2002, on the day after that on which it is made;

(b) for all other purposes, on 2nd May 2002.

(3) Articles 6, 7 and 8(1) shall come into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary, or relating, to the elections of parish councillors for the parishes of Bromham, Kempston Rural and Renhold to be held on 1st May 2003, on 15th October 2002; and

(b) for all other purposes, on 1st May 2003.

(4) Articles 4 and 5 shall come into force—

(a) for the purposes of proceedings preliminary, or relating, to the elections of parish councillors for the parishes of Eastcotts and Kempston to be held on 6th May 2004, on 15th October 2003; and

(b) for all other purposes, on 6th May 2004.

(5) In this Order—

“borough” means the borough of Bedford;

“existing”, in relation to a ward, means the ward as it exists on the date this Order is made; and

any reference to “the map” is a reference to the map prepared by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions marked “Map of the Borough of Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001”, and deposited in accordance with regulation 27 of the Local Government Changes for England Regulations 1994(4).

Wards of the borough of Bedford

2.—(1) The existing wards of the borough(5) shall be abolished.

(2) The borough shall be divided into twenty-six wards which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of Schedule 1.

(3) The wards shall comprise the areas described in column (2) of that Schedule by reference to parishes or, where an area is not so described, the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward and demarcated by red lines; and the number of councillors to be elected for each ward shall be the number specified in respect of the ward in column (3) of that Schedule.

(4) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it shall be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Elections of the council of Bedford

3.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the election of councillors for wards of the borough shall be by thirds.

(2) Elections of all councillors for all wards of the borough shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2002(6).

(3) The councillors holding office for any ward of the borough immediately before 6th May 2002 shall retire on that date and the newly-elected councillors for those wards shall come into office on that date.

(4) The order of retirement of councillors shall be as set out in Schedule 2.

(5) Where the number of councillors elected in 2002 for any ward of the borough is two or more—

(a) the first to retire shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and

(b) the second to retire shall, subject to those paragraphs, be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.

(6) In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any year, the person to retire in that year shall be determined by lot.

(7) If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year shall be determined by lot.

(8) Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot shall be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing shall be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

(9) Except as otherwise provided in the preceding paragraphs of this article, the term of office of councillors shall be four years; and all councillors shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year of retirement and the newly-elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.

Wards of the parish of Eastcotts

4.  The parish of Eastcotts shall be divided into two parish wards which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of Schedule 3; each parish ward shall comprise the area of the borough ward specified in respect of the parish ward in column (2) of that Schedule; and the number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward shall be the number specified in respect of the parish ward in column (3) of that Schedule.

Wards of the parish of Kempston

5.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Kempston shall be abolished.

(2) The Parish of Kempston shall be divided into four parish wards which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of Schedule 4; each parish ward shall comprise the area of the borough ward specified in respect of the parish ward in column (2) of that Schedule; and the number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward shall be the number specified in respect of the parish ward in column (3) of that Schedule.

Wards of the parish of Kempston Rural

6.  The parish of Kempston Rural shall be divided into two parish wards which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of Schedule 5; each parish ward shall comprise the area of the borough ward specified in respect of the parish ward in column (2) of that Schedule; and the number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward shall be the number specified in respect of the parish ward in column (3) of that Schedule.

Wards of the parish of Renhold

7.  The parish of Renhold shall be divided into two parish wards which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of Schedule 6; each parish ward shall comprise the area of the borough ward specified in respect of the parish ward in column (2) of that Schedule; and the number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward shall be the number specified in respect of the parish ward in column (3) of that Schedule.

Numbers of parish councillors

8.—(1) The number of parish councillors to be elected for the parish of Bromham shall be fourteen.

(2) The number of parish councillors to be elected for the parish of Elstow shall be nine.

Parish Elections

9.—(1) The term of office of every parish councillor elected on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2000 for the parishes of Carlton and Chellington, Colmworth, Cople, Little Staughton, Pavenham, Roxton, Staploe and Stevington shall be three years.

(2) Elections of all parish councillors for the parishes of Bolnhurst and Keysoe, Dean and Shelton, Elstow, Harrold, Oakley, Odell, Podington, Riseley, Wilshamstead and Wymington and for the joint council for the parishes of Pertenhall and Swineshead shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2002 and every fourth year after 2002.

(3) The ordinary elections of parish councillors for the parishes of Bletsoe, Felmersham, Milton Ernest, Ravensden, Renhold, Thurleigh and Wilden in 2002 shall not take place; and any such parish councillor holding office immediately before 2nd May 2002 who would, but for this paragraph, have retired on that date shall, unless he resigns his office or it otherwise becomes vacant, continue to hold office until the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2003.

(4) Elections of all parish councillors for the parishes of Bletsoe, Carlton and Chellington, Colmworth, Cople, Felmersham, Little Staughton, Milton Ernest, Pavenham, Ravensden, Renhold, Roxton, Staploe, Stevington, Thurleigh and Wilden, shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2003 and every fourth year after 2003.

(5) Elections of all parish councillors for the parishes of Cardington and Eastcotts shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004 and every fourth year after 2004.

(6) The term of office of parish councillors elected in accordance with paragraph 2, 4 or 5 above shall be four years; and they shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year of retirement and the newly-elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.

(7) Rule 8 of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986(7) (filling of casual vacancies) shall have effect, in the case of a casual vacancy occurring before 5th May 2003 in the office of a parish councillor for the parishes of Bletsoe, Felmersham, Milton Ernest, Ravensden, Renhold, Thurleigh and Wilden as if the references in paragraphs (1) and (4) for that rule to the day on which that councillor would regularly have retired were a reference to 5th May 2003.

Revocation

10.  The Borough of North Bedfordshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 is hereby revoked.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Alan Whitehead

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

20th December 2001

Article 2

SCHEDULE 1 NAMES AND AREAS OF WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)
Name of ward	Area of ward	Number of Councillors
Brickhill		3
Bromham	The parishes of Biddenham and Bromham	3
Carlton	The parishes of Carlton and Chellington, Felmersham, Pavenham and Stevington	1
Castle		3
Cauldwell		3
Clapham	The parishes of Bletsoe, Clapham, Milton Ernest and Thurleigh	2
De Parys		2
Eastcotts		1
Goldington		3
Great Barford		2
Harpur		3
Harrold	The parishes of Harrold, Odell, Podington and Wymington	1
Kempston East		2
Kempston North		2
Kempston South		3
Kingsbrook		3
Newnham		2
Oakley	The parish of Oakley	1
Putnoe		3
Queen’s Park		2
Riseley	The parishes of Bolnhurst and Keysoe, Dean and Shelton, Pertenhall, Riseley and Swineshead	1
Roxton	The parishes of Colmworth, Little Barford, Little Staughton, Roxton, Staploe and Wilden	1
Sharnbrook	The parishes of Knotting and Souldrop, Melchbourne and Yielden, and Sharnbrook	1
Turvey		1
Wilshamstead		2
Wootton	The parishes of Stewartby and Wootton	3

Article 3(4)

SCHEDULE 2 ORDER OF RETIREMENT OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Name of ward	Number of Councillors to retire in 2003	Number of Councillors to retire in 2004	Number of Councillors to retire in 2006
Brickhill	1	1	1
Bromham	1	1	1
Carlton	1	0	0
Castle	1	1	1
Cauldwell	1	1	1
Clapham	1	1	0
De Parys	1	1	0
Eastcotts	0	1	0
Goldington	1	1	1
Great Barford	1	1	0
Harpur	1	1	1
Harrold	0	0	1
Kempston East	0	1	1
Kempston North	0	1	1
Kempston South	1	1	1
Kingsbrook	1	1	1
Newnham	0	1	1
Oakley	0	0	1
Putnoe	1	1	1
Queen’s Park	0	1	1
Riseley	0	0	1
Roxton	1	0	0
Sharnbrook	1	0	0
Turvey	1	0	0
Wilshamstead	1	0	1
Wootton	1	1	1

Article 4

SCHEDULE 3 WARDS OF THE PARISH OF EASTCOTTS NAMES AND AREAS OF WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)
Name of ward	Area of ward	Number of Councillors
Rural	So much of the borough ward of Eastcotts as comprises the parish of Eastcotts	12
Urban	So much of the borough ward of Kingsbrook as comprises the parish of Eastcotts	3

Article 5

SCHEDULE 4 WARDS OF THE PARISH OF KEMPSTON NAMES AND AREAS OF WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)
Name of ward	Area of ward	Number of Councillors
Ampthill Road	So much of the borough ward of Cauldwell as comprises the parish of Kempston	1
East	So much of the borough ward of Kempston East as comprises the parish of Kempston	4
North	So much of the borough ward of Kempston North as comprises the parish of Kempston	4
South	So much of the borough ward of Kempston South as comprises the parish of Kempston	4

Article 6

SCHEDULE 5 WARDS OF THE PARISH OF KEMPSTON RURAL NAMES AND AREAS OF WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)
Name of ward	Area of ward	Number of Councillors
Hardwick	So much of the borough ward of Kempston South as comprises the parish of Kempston Rural	4
Rural	So much of the borough ward of Turvey as comprises the parish of Kempston Rural	9

Article 7

SCHEDULE 6 WARDS OF THE PARISH OF RENHOLD NAMES AND AREAS OF WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

(1)	(2)	(3)
Name of ward	Area of ward	Number of Councillors
Renhold North	So much of the borough ward of Great Barford as comprises the parish of Renhold	6
South West	So much of the borough ward of Goldington as comprises the parish of Renhold	3

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to recommendations by the Local Government Commission for England for electoral changes in the borough of Bedford. The changes have effect in relation to local government elections to be held on and after 2nd May 2002.

Article 2 abolishes the existing wards of the borough and provides for the creation of 26 new wards. That article and Schedule 1 also make provision for the names and area of, and numbers of councillors for, the new wards.

Article 3 makes provision for a whole council election in 2002 and for reversion to elections by thirds in subsequent years. Schedule 2 regulates the order of retirement of councillors.

Articles 4 to 8 make electoral changes in the parishes of Eastcotts, Kempston, Kempston Rural, Renhold, Bromham and Elstow.

Article 9 makes changes to the arrangement for the parish elections for the borough.

Article 10 revokes the Borough of North Bedfordshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979.

The areas of the new borough wards are demarcated on the map described in article 1(3). Prints of the map may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of Bedford Borough Council and at the offices of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, 2nd Floor, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE.

(1)

1992 c. 19.

(2)

The non-metropolitan district of Bedford has the status of a borough.

(3)

Section 17 is amended by section 39(4) and (5) of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 (c. 29).

(4)

S.I. 1994/867, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

(5)

See the Borough of North Bedfordshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1663).

(6)

For the ordinary day of election of councillors of local government areas, see section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2); amended by section 18(2)of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) and section 17 of, and paragraphs 1 and 5 of Schedule 3 to, the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29).

(7)

S.I. 1986/2215, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.