2023 No. 48

Local Government, England

The Fenland (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

Made18th January 2023

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

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated September 20223 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Fenland. 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, commencement, extent and application1

1

This Order may be cited as the Fenland (Electoral Changes) Order 2023.

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 in England4 in 2023.

4

This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation2

1

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Fenland (Electoral Changes) Order 2023”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.

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 Fenland and number of councillors3

1

The existing wards of the district of Fenland are abolished.

2

The district of Fenland is divided into the 18 wards listed in column 1 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.

Parish wards of the parishes of Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech4

1

The existing parish wards of the parishes of Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech are abolished.

2

The parish of Chatteris is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

3

The parish of March is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

4

The parish of Whittlesey is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

5

The parish of Wisbech is divided into the ten parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

6

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

7

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish 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 JacksonChief ExecutiveLocal Government Boundary Commission for England18th January 2023

SCHEDULE 1Wards of the district of Fenland and number of councillors

Article 3

(1) Name of ward	(2) Number of councillors
Chatteris North & Manea	3
Chatteris South	3
Doddington & Wimblington	2
Elm & Christchurch	2
Leverington & Wisbech Rural	3
March East	3
March North	3
March South	2
March West & Benwick	2
Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary	3
Whittlesey East & Villages	3
Whittlesey Lattersey	1
Whittlesey North West	2
Whittlesey South	2
Wisbech North	1
Wisbech Riverside	2
Wisbech South	3
Wisbech Walsoken & Waterlees	3

SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Article 4

Table 1Parish wards of the parish of Chatteris

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Birch	3
Slade Lode North	2
Slade Lode South	1
The Mills	3
Wenneye	3

Table 2Parish wards of the parish of March

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
East	2
North	4
Peas Hill	2
South	2
Town End	1
West	1

Table 3Parish wards of the parish of Whittlesey

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Bassenhally	3
Coates & Eastrea	2
Lattersey	2
North West	3
St Andrews	2
South	2

Table 4Parish wards of the parish of Wisbech

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Claremont	1
Clarence	1
Clarkson	2
Medworth	2
North	2
Octavia Hill	4
Peckover East	1
Peckover West	1
Walsoken	3
Waterlees	1

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

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

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the district of Fenland and replaces them with 18 new ones for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2023. It establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards that are consequential on 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 https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/cambridgeshire/fenland.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.