Explanatory Note
This Order gives effect to recommendations made by the Local Government Commission for England in respect of the making of structural and boundary changes in the county of Avon.
Article 3 provides for two new districts of Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire to be constituted and establishes new district councils for those areas.
Article 4 provides for the change of name of the district of Woodspring and of Woodspring District Council.
Article 5 provides for the abolition of the county of Avon and of certain Avon districts and councils.
Article 6 provides for the constitution of four new counties.
Article 7 makes provision for the shrievalty in respect of the county of the City of Bristol.
Article 8 amends the City of Bristol (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 to make provision for a whole council election for the City of Bristol Council in 1995 and for reversion to election by thirds in subsequent years.
Article 9 and Schedules 1 and 2 make provision for the election of councillors to the district councils of Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire in 1995 and subsequent years, and make provision for election expenses for the 1995 election. The new wards are shown on the 6 maps prepared by the Department of the Environment, marked “Maps of the Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995”.
Those maps may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of the Secretary of State for the Environment, 2, Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB, and before 1st April 1996, at the offices of Bath City Council, Wansdyke District Council, Kingswood Borough Council, and Northavon District Council, and after 1st April 1996 at the offices of Bath and North East Somerset District Council and South Gloucestershire District Council.
Article 10 makes provision for the suspension of elections in 1995 to the transferor authorities.
Article 11 effects the structural change by providing for the transfer, on 1st April 1996, of the functions of Avon County Council, in relation to each district in the county to the transferee authority for that district. The areas of the transferee authorities are shown on the map annexed to this Order on page 13.
Articles 12 and 13 make provision in respect of police services.
Article 14 makes provision for the purposes of subordinate legislation to be made under the Fire Services Act 1947 in respect of fire services in Avon.
Article 15 makes provision in respect to Avon County Council’s structure plan and to enable local plans prepared by Avon district councils under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to contain minerals and waste polices.
Article 16 vests Avon County Council’s superannuation fund in the Bath and North East Somerset council.
Article 17 designates the council of the district of Bristol for the purposes of certain finance functions.
Article 18 makes provision as to the powers of shadow authorities.
Articles 19 to 21 make provision with respect to preparations for implementation of the reorganisation.