1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Knowsley (Electoral Changes) Order 2015.
(2) This article and article 2 of this Order come into force on the day after this Order is made.
(3) Articles 3 and 4 of this Order come into force—
(a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after this Order is made;
(b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors(1) in 2016.
(4) The remainder of this Order comes into force—
(a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after this Order is made;
(b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019.
2. In this Order “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Knowsley (Electoral Changes) Order 2015”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2).
3.—(1) The existing wards of the district of Knowsley are abolished.
(2) The district of Knowsley is divided into the 15 wards in the following list—
Cherryfield
Halewood North
Halewood South
Northwood
Page Moss
Prescot North
Prescot South
Roby
Shevington
St Gabriels
St Michaels
Stockbridge
Swanside
Whiston & Cronton
Whitefield
(3) Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.
(4) Three councillors are to be elected for each ward.
(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.
4.—(1) Elections of all councillors of each ward of the district of Knowsley are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016.
(2) The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016 are to retire on that fourth day and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.
(3) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2016, one shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2018, one on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019 and one on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2020.
(4) Of the councillors elected in 2016, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6)—
(a)the first to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and
(b)the second to retire is to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.
(5) 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 is to be determined by lot.
(6) If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year is to be determined by lot.
(7) An election to replace a councillor who retires under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year in which the retirement took place; and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on the fourth day after that day.
(8) Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot is to be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing is to be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.
5.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Halewood are abolished.
(2) The parish of Halewood is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 1 in the Schedule.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) 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 table 1 in the Schedule.
6.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Knowsley are abolished.
(2) The parish of Knowsley is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 2 in the Schedule.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) 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 table 2 in the Schedule.
7.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Prescot are abolished.
(2) The parish of Prescot is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 3 in the Schedule.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) 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 table 3 in the Schedule.
8.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Whiston are abolished.
(2) The parish of Whiston is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 4 in the Schedule.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) 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 table 4 in the Schedule.
Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Name
Chairman
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Date