The South Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014

Statutory Instruments

2014 No. 23

Local Government, England

The South Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014

Made

8th January 2014

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1) (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) published a report dated March 2013 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of South Oxfordshire. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act:

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the South Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014.

(2) This Order comes into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2014;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order—

“map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the South Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014”, prints of which are available for inspection at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;

“ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983(3).

Wards of the district of South Oxfordshire and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the district of South Oxfordshire are abolished.

(2) The district of South Oxfordshire is divided into 21 district wards, each listed by name in the first column of the Schedule.

(3) Each district ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the district ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each district ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the Schedule.

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

Wards of the parish of Didcot and number of councillors

4.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Didcot are abolished.

(2) The parish of Didcot is divided into six parish wards named respectively—

(a) All Saints;

(b) Ladygrove;

(c) Millbrook;

(d) Northbourne;

(e) Orchard;

(f) Park.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4) Five councillors are to be elected for All Saints parish ward.

(5) Seven councillors are to be elected for Ladygrove parish ward.

(6) One councillor is to be elected for each of Millbrook and Orchard parish wards.

(7) Four councillors are to be elected for Northbourne parish ward.

(8) Three councillors are to be elected for Park parish ward.

Amendment and revocation

5.  In the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2012(4)—

(a) in article 2(2), delete the reference to article “12”;

(b) article 12 is revoked.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the 8th day of January 2014

Max Caller

Chairman

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

8th January 2014

Article 3

SCHEDULE

Names of district wards and number of councillors

(1) Name of district ward	(2) Number of councillors
Benson & Crowmarsh	2
Berinsfield	1
Chalgrove	1
Chinnor	2
Cholsey	2
Didcot North East	3
Didcot South	3
Didcot West	2
Forest Hill & Holton	1
Garsington & Horspath	1
Goring	1
Haseley Brook	1
Henley-on-Thames	3
Kidmore End & Whitchurch	1
Sandford & the Wittenhams	1
Sonning Common	2
Thame	3
Wallingford	2
Watlington	1
Wheatley	1
Woodcote & Rotherfield	2

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of South Oxfordshire following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the district remains unchanged.

The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.

Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the district of South Oxfordshire and replaces them with 21 new ones. That article, the map (as defined in article 2) and the Schedule also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new district wards.

Article 4 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Didcot and replaces them with six new ones. That article and the map also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.

Article 12 of the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2012 abolished the existing wards of the parish of Didcot and replaced them with five new ones. That article is revoked by article 5(b) of this Order, and, by virtue of article 5(a), will not come into force.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new district and parish wards. It is available at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/oxfordshire/south-oxfordshire-fer. The map is also available for inspection at all reasonable times at the offices of South Oxfordshire District Council at Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8ED and at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at Layden House, 76 – 86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

2009 c.20.

(2)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c.20).

(3)

1983 c.2; section 37 has been amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c.50), paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c.29) and section 60(1) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c.28).

(4)

S.I. 2012/1812.