This Order may be cited as the Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 and shall come into force on the day after that on which it is made.

In this Order—

• “the 2007 Act” means the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007;

• “the 2000 Act” means the Local Government Act 2000 as it has effect in relation to Bedford Borough Council2;

• “the 1972 Act” means the Local Government Act 19723;

• “the 2004 Order” means the County of Bedfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 20044;

• “the 2009 election” means—

  1. a

     in the case of Bedford, the election required by article 13(1) to be held in 2009;

  2. b

     in the case of Central Bedfordshire, the election required by article 25(1) to be held in 2009;

• “the 2009 election day” means the ordinary day of election of councillors5 in 2009;

• “Bedford”, except in the expressions “the Bedford electoral divisions” and “the non-metropolitan county of Bedford”, means the borough of Bedford;

• “the Bedford electoral divisions” means the county electoral divisions of Brickhill, Bromham, Cauldwell, Clapham and Oakley, De Parys, Eastcotts, Goldington, Harpur, Harrold, Kempston, Kempston Rural, Kingsbrook, Newnham, North East Bedfordshire, Putnoe, Queens Park, Wilshamstead and Wootton6;

• “the Bedford Implementation Team” means the team formed in accordance with article 11(1);

• “Bedfordshire”, except in the expression “Central Bedfordshire”, means the county of Bedfordshire as it exists on the date on which this Order is made;

• “Central Bedfordshire” means the district established by article 4(1);

• “Central Bedfordshire Council” means the district council established by article 4(3);

• “the Central Implementation Team” means the team formed in accordance with article 22(1);

• “the County Council” means Bedfordshire County Council;

• “the district councils” means the councils of the districts of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire; and

• “the proper officer”, in relation to any purpose and Bedford Borough Council, the County Council or either of the district councils, means the officer appointed for that purpose by that Council.