Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

County councils

1 (1) This paragraph applies where the Local Government Boundary Commission for England makes recommendations under section 56 in relation to the electoral arrangements for the area of a county council.

(2) The recommendations must secure the following results—

(a) an electoral area of the county council must not fall partly inside and partly outside any district,

(b) every ward of a parish having a parish council (whether separate or common) must lie wholly within a single electoral area of the county council, and

(c) every parish which is not divided into parish wards must lie wholly within a single electoral area of the county council.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), in making the recommendations the Local Government Boundary Commission for England must have regard to—

(a) the need to secure that the ratio of the number of local government electors to the number of members of the county council to be elected is, as nearly as possible, the same in every electoral area of the council,

(b) the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities and in particular—

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

(ii) the desirability of not breaking local ties when fixing boundaries,

(c) the need to secure effective and convenient local government, and

(d) the boundaries of the electoral areas of any district council whose area is within the area of the county council.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(a) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England must have regard to any change in the number or distribution of local government electors in the area of the county council which is likely to take place within the period of five years immediately following the making of the recommendations.