1(1)For the purpose of any election of councillors held before the relevant year of election, every local government area shall be divided into such electoral wards as may be specified in a direction made by the Secretary of State after carrying out, either before or after the passing of this Act, such consultation as he considers appropriate.S
(2)In this paragraph “relevant year of election” means, in relation to a local government area, the first year of ordinary election of councillors for that area occurring after the making of an order constituting the new electoral wards of that local government area in consequence of a review under Schedule 5 to the 1973 Act.
(3)A direction under this paragraph may contain such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision as the Secretary of State may consider to be appropriate.
2(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 41(1) (returning officer to be an officer of the council) of the M1Representation of the People Act 1983 (“the 1983 Act”), at the elections of councillors to be held on 6th April 1995, the returning officer shall be an officer appointed by such regional or district council as the Secretary of State may direct.S
(2)Section 42(5) (expenses of election) of the 1983 Act shall not apply to any such election, but all expenditure properly incurred by a returning officer or other officer shall be paid in the first instance by the council by whom the returning officer was appointed and shall be defrayed by the existing authorities concerned in such proportions as may be agreed between them or, failing such agreement, by such of them, and in such proportions, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.
(3)In this paragraph “existing authorities” means the authorities all or part of whose area is included in the area of the new authority whose council is being elected.