The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996

Elections in Wokingham in 1997 and subsequent years

14.—(1) The District of Wokingham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978(1) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this article.

(2) The following shall be substituted for article 6—

“6.— (1) Elections of all councillors for wards of the district shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 1997.

(2) The councillors holding office for any ward in the district immediately before 5th May 1997 shall retire on that date and the newly elected councillors for any such ward shall come into office on that date.

(3) The order of retirement of the councillors elected in 1997 shall be as set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

(4) Where the number of councillors elected at the ordinary election of councillors in 1997 for any ward of the district is two, the first to retire in that ward shall be, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7) below, the councillor elected by the smaller number of votes.

(5) Where the number of councillors elected at the ordinary election of councillors in 1997 for any ward of the district is three—

(a) one-third shall retire in 1999 being, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7) below, the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes;

(b) one-third shall retire in 2000 being, subject as aforesaid, the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes;

(c) the remaining councillor shall retire in 2001.

(6) In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any such year, the person to retire in that year shall be determined by lot.

(7) If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each such year shall be determined by lot.

(8) Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot shall be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen, and the drawing shall be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

(9) In each year in which a councillor for a ward in the district retires in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (8) above an election of a councillor for that ward shall be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in that year; and the term of office of councillors elected at such an election shall be three years.

(10) Except as otherwise provided in the foregoing paragraphs of this article, the term of office of councillors shall be four years, and all councillors shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors for the district in the year of retirement and the newly elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.”.

(3) The following shall be substituted for Schedule 2—

Article 6(3)

“SCHEDULE 2 ORDER OF RETIREMENT OF COUNCILLORS

Name of ward	Number of councillors to retire in 1999	Number of councillors to retire in 2000	Number of councillors to retire in 2001
Arborfield	1	0	0
Barkham	0	1	0
Bulmershe	1	0	1
Charvil	0	0	1
Coronation	1	1	1
Emmbrook	1	1	1
Evendons	1	1	1
Finchampstead North	1	0	1
Finchampstead South	1	1	0
Hurst	0	0	1
Little Hungerford	1	1	1
Loddon	1	1	1
Norreys	1	1	1
Redhatch	1	1	1
Remenham and Wargrave	1	1	0
Shinfield	1	1	1
Sonning	0	1	0
South Lake	1	1	1
Swallowfield	1	0	0
Twyford and Ruscombe	1	1	1
Westcott	0	1	1
Whitegates	0	1	1
Winnersh	1	1	1
Wokingham Without	1	1	1”.

(1)

S.I. 1978/1640.