The Somerset West and Taunton (Electoral Changes) Order 2018

Statutory Instruments

2018 No. 1371

Local Government, England

The Somerset West and Taunton (Electoral Changes) Order 2018

Made

17th December 2018

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

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) (“the Commission”) published a report dated October 2018 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for Somerset West and Taunton(3). 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 since the day on which it was laid 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 Somerset West and Taunton (Electoral Changes) Order 2018.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

(3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors(4) in 2019.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Somerset West and Taunton (Electoral Changes) Order 2018”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(5).

(2) 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 district of Somerset West and Taunton and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the district of Somerset West and Taunton are abolished.

(2) The district of Somerset West and Taunton is divided into 35 wards as listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

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

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.

Wards of the parishes of Minehead and Wellington

4.—(1) The existing wards of the parishes of Minehead and Wellington are abolished.

(2) The parish of Minehead is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3) The parish of Wellington is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 2.

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

(5) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 2.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Jolyon Jackson

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

17th December 2018

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of wards and number of councillors

(1)	(2)
Name of district ward	Number of councillors
Alcombe	1
Blackbrook & Holway	2
Comeytrowe & Bishop’s Hull	3
Cotford St Luke & Oake	1
Creech St Michael	2
Dulverton & District	1
Exmoor	1
Halcon & Lane	2
Hatch & Blackdown	1
Manor & Tangier	1
Milverton & District	1
Minehead Central	2
Minehead North	1
Monument	1
North Curry & Ruishton	2
North Town	1
Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove	3
Old Cleeve & District	2
Periton & Woodcombe	1
Porlock & District	1
Priorswood	3
Quantock Vale	1
Rockwell Green	1
South Quantock	2
Trull, Pitminster & Corfe	2
Victoria	2
Vivary	2
Watchet & Williton	3
Wellington East	2
Wellington North	2
Wellington South	1
Wellsprings & Rowbarton	2
West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine	3
Wilton & Sherford	1
Wiveliscombe & District	2

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Wards of the parish of Minehead

(1)	(2)
Name of parish ward	Number of councillors
Alcombe North	1
Alcombe South	3
Minehead Central	6
Minehead North	3
Periton & Woodcombe	3

Table 2

Wards of the parish of Wellington

(1)	(2)
Name of parish ward	Number of councillors
Rockwell Green	2
Wellington East	4
Wellington North	5
Wellington South	3
Wellington South East	1

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Somerset West and Taunton following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Somerset West and Taunton is established as an authority, with effect from 1st April 2019, by virtue of the Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/649). The changes made by this Order apply in respect of local government elections held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019.

Article 3 provides for the creation of 35 new electoral wards and establishes the names and areas of those wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards which are consequential to the changes made by article 3.

The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL.

The map may also be accessed at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-west/somerset/somerset-west-and-taunton

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.

(3)

See S.I. 2018/649 which abolishes the districts of West Somerset and Taunton Deane on 1st April 2019. On the same day, article 3 of that instrument establishes Somerset West and Taunton as a new non-metropolitan district. The sole principal authority for the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton is to be Somerset West and Taunton Council. Article 20 of that instrument also makes provision in respect of elections to that Council, in particular by specifying the number of wards which is to comprise Somerset West and Taunton and the number of councillors to be elected for each of those wards. Section 60(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) provided for the transfer of functions under Part 1 (Structural and Boundary Change in England) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28) (“the 2007 Act”) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is obliged, by virtue of section 12(5) of the 2007 Act, to consider whether to exercise its power to conduct a review under section 56(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 as soon as reasonably practicable following the making of an Order under section 10 of the 2007 Act (under which power, amongst others, S.I. 2018/649 was made). This Order gives effect to the recommendations arising from that review.

(4)

The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) and section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4).

(5)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL. It is also accessible online at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-west/somerset/somerset-west-and-taunton