London Government Act 1963

Division of borough into wards, etc.

1 If at any time the Secretary of State is satisfied as respects any London borough, whether on representations made to him by the council of the borough or otherwise, that there are sufficient grounds for considering an alteration of—

(a) the number of the wards of the borough ; or

(b) the boundaries of any of those wards ; or

(c) the number of councillors of the borough ; or

(d) the apportionment of those councillors among those wards ; or

(e) the name of any ward,

he shall cause such notices to be given concerning the matter as he may .think expedient.

2 The Secretary of State after considering any representations made in consequence of any notice given under the foregoing paragraph—

(a) if he considers that no inquiry is necessary and is satisfied that an alteration with respect to the matter to which the notice related is desirable, may make provision accordingly by order;

(b) in any other case, shall appoint a commissioner to hold a local inquiry and to report to the Secretary of State what alterations, if any, such as are mentioned in that paragraph the commissioner recommends should be made with respect to the borough in question.

3 Upon receiving any report by a commissioner appointed under the last foregoing paragraph, the Secretary of State may ask that commissioner for a further report on any matter raised at the inquiry held by him but not dealt with in his report.

4 The commissioner shall cause a copy of any report by him under either of the two last foregoing paragraphs to be sent to the town clerk of the London borough concerned and to any other person who appeared before the commissioner.

5 The Secretary of State may by order give effect to the recommendations of any such commissioner either with or without modifications or may decide that no alteration such as is mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Part of this Schedule shall for the time being be made.

6 Any order made under paragraph 2(a) or 5 of this Part of this Schedule may contain such incidental, consequential, supplementary or transitional provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient, including the revocation or amendment of any provision of a London borough's charter or incorporation order which relates to the same matter as the Secretary of State's order.

7 In considering the boundaries of the wards in a London borough, the Secretary of State and any commissioner appointed under this Part of this Schedule shall—

(a) so far as reasonably practicable, and taking into account any change in the number or distribution of inhabitants of the borough likely to take place within the period of five years immediately following the consideration, ensure that the ratio of the number of local government electors to the number of councillors to be elected is as nearly as may be the same in every ward ; and

(b) have regard—

(i) to the desirability of fixing boundaries which are and will remain easily identifiable ; and

(ii) to any local ties which have been or would be broken by the fixing of any particular boundary.

8 Any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Part of this Schedule in relation to any London borough, excluding (without prejudice to section 88 of this Act) the costs of any local inquiry caused to be held by him, shall, if and to such extent as the Secretary of State so requires, be repaid to him by the council of that borough.