6 Term of office and retirement of councillors.E
(1)Councillors for a principal area shall be elected by the local government electors for that area in accordance with this Act and Part I of the [F1Representation of the People Act 1983].
(2)For the purposes of the election of councillors—
(a)every [F2non-metropolitan] county shall be divided into electoral divisions, each returning (subject to paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to this Act [F3and subject to sections 14(8) and 17(7) of the Local Government Act 1992]) one councillor;
(b)every metropolitan district shall be divided into wards, each returning a number of councillors which is divisible by three; and
(c)every non-metropolitan district shall be divided into wards, each returning such number of councillors as may be provided [F4as mentioned in subsection (3) below];
and there shall be a separate election for each electoral division or ward.
[F5(3)The number of councillors referred to in subsection (2)(c) above may be provided—
(a)by an order under paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to this Act;
(b)under or by virtue of the provisions of section 7 below;
(c)by an order under Part II of the Local Government Act 1992; or
(d)by an order under section 14 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42), s. 206, Sch. 8 para. 12
F2Word inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 16 para. 2
F3Words in s. 6(2)(a) inserted (28.9.2000) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 89(4), 108(2)(a)
F4Words in s. 6(2)(c) substituted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 29, ss. 33(1), 34(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(a)
F5S. 6(3) added (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 29, ss. 33(1), 34(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 6(2)(a) excluded (1.11.2007) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 12(4), 245; S.I. 2007/3136, art. 2(a) (subject to art. 3)