2Local Government Boundaries Commissioner
1
The principal Act is amended as follows.
2
In section 50 (local government boundaries) for subsections (1) and (2) substitute—
1
The Department shall appoint a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner—
a
in the year 2008; and
b
thereafter, during the period not less than 8 or more than 12 years from the date of the submission under subsection (6) of the final report of the last previous Commissioner appointed under this subsection.
2
The function of a Commissioner appointed under subsection (1)(a) shall be to make recommendations regarding—
a
the boundaries and names of the 11 districts mentioned in section 1 of the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
b
the number, boundaries and names of the wards into which each district is to be divided.
3
In Schedule 4 (provisions relating to the Commissioner)—
a
for paragraph 3(2)(c) substitute—
c
the Chief Survey Officer of Land and Property Services; and
b
for paragraph 6(2)(b) substitute—
b
that he will in due course publish provisional recommendations and cause a public hearing to be held in each of the 11 districts mentioned in section 1 of the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
c
for paragraph 18 substitute—
18
1
Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3)—
a
in the district of Belfast the number of wards shall be 60;
b
in each other district the number of wards shall be 40.
2
Where, having regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 17, the Commissioner considers it desirable that the number of wards in any district should be more than that specified in sub-paragraph (1), the number of wards in that district may be increased by not more than 5.
3
Where, having regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 17, the Commissioner considers it desirable that the number of wards in any district should be fewer than that specified in sub-paragraph (1), the number of wards in that district may be decreased by not more than 5.