The Ashford (Electoral Changes) Order 2017

Draft Order laid before Parliament under section 59(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; draft to lie for forty days pursuant to section 6(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, during which period either House of Parliament may resolve that the Order be not made.

Draft Statutory Instruments

2017 No. 0000

Local Government, England

The Ashford (Electoral Changes) Order 2017

Made

***

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 June 2017 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Ashford. The Commission has decided to give effect to those recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before each House of Parliament, 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 Ashford (Electoral Changes) Order 2017.

(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(3) in 2019.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Ashford (Electoral Changes) Order 2017”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(4).

(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 borough of Ashford and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the borough of Ashford are abolished.

(2) The borough of Ashford is divided into 39 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 parishes

4.—(1) The existing wards of the following parishes are abolished—

(a) Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Grouped Parish Council;

(b) Charing;

(c) Great Chart with Singleton;

(d) High Halden;

(e) Kingsnorth;

(f) Mersham & Sevington Grouped Parish Council;

(g) Stanhope; and

(h) Tenterden.

(2) Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Grouped Parish Council is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

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

(4) The parish of Great Chart with Singleton is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 2.

(5) The parish of High Halden is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 2,

(6) The parish of Kingsnorth is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of table 5 in Schedule 2.

(7) Mersham & Sevington Grouped Parish Council is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 6 in Schedule 2.

(8) The parish of Stanhope is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 7 in Schedule 2.

(9) The parish of Tenterden is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of table 8 in Schedule 2.

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

(11) 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

Name

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Date

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of wards and number of councillors

(1) Name of borough ward	(2) Number of councillors
Aylesford & East Stour	2
Beaver	2
Biddenden	1
Bircholt	1
Bockhanger	1
Bybrook	1
Charing	1
Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm	1
Downs North	1
Downs West	1
Furley	2
Goat Lees	1
Godinton	1
Highfield	1
Isle of Oxney	1
Kennington	1
Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield	1
Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry	1
Norman	1
Park Farm North	1
Park Farm South	1
Repton	2
Rolvenden & Tenterden West	1
Roman	1
Saxon Shore	1
Singleton East	1
Singleton West	1
Stanhope	1
Tenterden North	1
Tenterden South	1
Tenterden St Michael’s	1
Upper Weald	1
Victoria	2
Washford	1
Weald Central	2
Weald North	1
Weald South	2
Willesborough	2
Wye with Hinxhill	1

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Wards of the Grouped Parish Council of Boughton Aluph & Eastwell

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Boughton Aluph	1
Eastwell	1
Goat Lees	6

Table 2

Wards of the parish of Charing

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Charing Heath	2
Charing Hill	10

Table 3

Wards of the parish of Great Chart with Singleton

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Chilmington Green	1
Great Chart with Singleton North	1
Singleton East	4
Washford	1
Singleton West	4

Table 4

Wards of the parish of High Halden

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
High Halden	7
Woodlands	1

Table 5

Wards of the parish of Kingsnorth

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Bridgefield	1
Kingsnorth Village	2
Park Farm North	2
Park Farm South	2
Roman	2
Washford Farm	1

Table 6

Wards of the Grouped Parish Council of Mersham & Sevington

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Highfield	1
Mersham	3
Sevington	6

Table 7

Wards of the parish of Stanhope

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Central	7
Speldhurst Close	1
The Limes	1

Table 8

Wards of the parish of Tenterden

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Rolvenden & Tenterden West	2
Tenterden North	5
Tenterden South	4
Tenterden St Michael’s	5

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Ashford following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough remains unchanged. 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 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Ashford and replaces them with 39 new ones. 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 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, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP. The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/kent/ashford

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)

The ordinary day of election of councillors in England and Wales is prescribed by section 37(1) 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).

(4)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/kent/ashford