2012 No. 1394

Local Government, England

The Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2012

Made

Coming into force in accordance with article 2

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the 2009 Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 published a report dated November 2011 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Durham.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has decided to give effect to the recommendations for electoral changes and in exercise of the powers conferred by section 59(1) of the 2009 Act makes the following Order:

Citation1

This Order may be cited as the Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2012.

Commencement2

This Order comes into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of councillors for county electoral divisions and the elections of parish councillors, on 15th October 2012;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2013.

Interpretation3

In this Order—

  • “map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2012”, of which prints are available for inspection at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;

  • “ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 19833.

Electoral divisions of the county of Durham and number of councillors4

1

The existing electoral divisions of the county of Durham are abolished.

2

The county is divided into sixty-three electoral divisions each bearing a name listed in column 1 of the Schedule.

3

Each electoral division comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division.

4

The number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division is the number specified in relation to that electoral division in column 2 of the Schedule.

5

Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Wards of the parish of Barnard Castle and number of councillors5

1

The existing wards of the parish of Barnard Castle are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Barnard Castle East;

b

Barnard Castle West.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Six councillors are to be elected for each ward.

Wards of the parish of Bishop Auckland and number of councillors6

1

The existing wards of the parish of Bishop Auckland are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into four wards named respectively—

a

Bishop Auckland Town;

b

Cockton Hill;

c

Henknowle;

d

Woodhouse Close.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Three councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Cockton Hill;

b

Henknowle;

c

Woodhouse Close.

5

Two councillors are to be elected for Bishop Auckland Town ward.

Wards of the parish of Brandon and Byshottles and number of councillors7

1

The existing wards of the parish of Brandon and Byshottles are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into six wards named respectively—

a

Central;

b

East;

c

North;

d

South;

e

Ushaw Moor;

f

West.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Four councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Central;

b

Ushaw Moor;

c

West.

5

Three councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

East;

b

North;

c

South.

Wards of the parish of Cornsay and number of councillors8

1

The existing wards of the parish of Cornsay are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Cornsay;

b

Hamsteels Estate.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Eight councillors are to be elected for Hamsteels Estate ward.

5

Three councillors are to be elected for Cornsay ward.

Wards of the parish of Dalton-le-Dale and number of councillors9

1

The existing wards of the parish of Dalton-le-Dale are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Dalton Urban;

b

Dalton Village.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Five councillors are to be elected for Dalton Urban ward.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for Dalton Village ward.

Wards of the parish of Edmondsley and number of councillors10

1

The existing wards of the parish of Edmondsley are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Edmondsley;

b

Twizell.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Ten councillors are to be elected for Edmondsley ward.

5

One councillor is to be elected for Twizell ward.

Wards of the parish of Great Aycliffe and number of councillors11

1

The existing wards of the parish of Great Aycliffe are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into eight wards named respectively—

a

Aycliffe Central;

b

Aycliffe Village;

c

Byerley Park, Horndale and Cobblers Hall;

d

Neville;

e

Shafto St Marys;

f

Simpasture;

g

West;

h

Woodham.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Six councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Byerley Park, Horndale and Cobblers Hall;

b

West;

c

Woodham.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for Shafto St Marys ward.

6

Three councillors are to be elected for Aycliffe Central ward.

7

Two councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Neville;

b

Simpasture.

8

One councillor is to be elected for Aycliffe Village ward.

Wards of the parish of Haswell and number of councillors12

1

The existing wards of the parish of Haswell are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Haswell Plough;

b

Haswell Village.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Seven councillors are to be elected for Haswell Village ward.

5

Two councillors are to be elected for Haswell Plough ward.

Wards of the parish of Marwood and number of councillors13

1

The existing wards of the parish of Marwood are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Marwood Rural;

b

Marwood Urban.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Four councillors are to be elected for Marwood Urban ward.

5

Three councillors are to be elected for Marwood Rural ward.

Wards of the parish of Peterlee and number of councillors14

1

The existing wards of the parish of Peterlee are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into five wards named respectively—

a

Acre Rigg;

b

Dene House;

c

Edenhill;

d

Howletch;

e

Passfield.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Five councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Acre Rigg;

b

Passfield.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Dene House;

b

Edenhill;

c

Howletch.

Wards of the parish of Seaham and number of councillors15

1

The existing wards of the parish of Seaham are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into six wards named respectively—

a

Dawdon;

b

Deneside;

c

Seaham Central;

d

Seaham Harbour;

e

Seaham North;

f

Westlea.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Five councillors are to be elected for Dawdon ward.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Deneside;

b

Seaham North.

6

Three councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Seaham Central;

b

Seaham Harbour.

7

Two councillors are to be elected for Westlea ward.

Wards of the parish of Shadforth and number of councillors16

1

The existing wards of the parish of Shadforth are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into three wards named respectively—

a

Ludworth;

b

Shadforth;

c

Sherburn Hill.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Five councillors are to be elected for Sherburn Hill ward.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for Ludworth ward.

6

Three councillors are to be elected for Shadforth ward.

Wards of the parish of Shincliffe and number of councillors17

1

The parish of Shincliffe is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Bell;

b

Shincliffe.

2

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

3

Six councillors are to be elected for Shincliffe ward.

4

One councillor is to be elected for Bell ward.

Wards of the parish of Spennymoor and number of councillors18

1

The existing wards of the parish of Spennymoor are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into six wards named respectively—

a

Byers Green;

b

Low Spennymoor and Tudhoe Grange;

c

Merrington;

d

Middlestone;

e

Spennymoor;

f

Tudhoe.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Six councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Low Spennymoor and Tudhoe Grange;

b

Spennymoor.

5

Four councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Middlestone;

b

Tudhoe.

6

One councillor is to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Byers Green;

b

Merrington.

Wards of the parish of Stanley and number of councillors19

1

The existing wards of the parish of Stanley are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into seven wards named respectively—

a

Annfield Plain;

b

Catchgate;

c

Craghead and South Stanley;

d

Havannah;

e

South Moor;

f

Stanley Hall;

g

Tanfield.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Four councillors are to be elected for Stanley Hall ward.

5

Three councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Annfield Plain;

b

Havannah;

c

South Moor;

d

Tanfield.

6

Two councillors are to be elected for each of the following wards:

a

Catchgate;

b

Craghead and South Stanley.

Wards of the parish of Wolsingham and number of councillors20

1

The existing wards of the parish of Wolsingham are abolished.

2

The parish is divided into two wards named respectively—

a

Thornley;

b

Wolsingham.

3

Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

4

Ten councillors are to be elected for Wolsingham ward.

5

One councillor is to be elected for Thornley ward.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the 25th day of May 2012

seal_r00001Max CallerChairmanLocal Government Boundary Commission for England

SCHEDULENames of county electoral divisions and numbers of councillors

Article 4

1

2

Name of County Electoral Division

Number of Councillors

Annfield Plain

2

Aycliffe East

2

Aycliffe North and Middridge

3

Aycliffe West

2

Barnard Castle East

2

Barnard Castle West

2

Belmont

3

Benfieldside

2

Bishop Auckland Town

2

Bishop Middleham and Cornforth

1

Blackhalls

2

Brandon

2

Burnopfield and Dipton

2

Chester-le-Street East

1

Chester-le-Street North

1

Chester-le-Street South

2

Chester-le-Street West Central

2

Chilton

1

Consett North

2

Consett South

1

Coundon

1

Coxhoe

3

Craghead and South Moor

2

Crook

3

Dawdon

2

Deerness

3

Delves Lane

2

Deneside

2

Durham South

1

Easington

2

Elvet and Gilesgate

2

Esh and Witton Gilbert

2

Evenwood

2

Ferryhill

3

Framwellgate and Newton Hall

3

Horden

2

Lanchester

2

Leadgate and Medomsley

2

Lumley

2

Murton

2

Neville’s Cross

2

North Lodge

1

Passfield

1

Pelton

3

Peterlee East

2

Peterlee West

2

Sacriston

2

Seaham

2

Sedgefield

2

Sherburn

2

Shildon and Dene Valley

3

Shotton and South Hetton

2

Spennymoor

3

Stanley

2

Tanfield

2

Tow Law

1

Trimdon and Thornley

3

Tudhoe

2

Weardale

2

West Auckland

2

Willington and Hunwick

2

Wingate

1

Woodhouse Close

2

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Durham following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the county remains unchanged.

The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2013.

Article 4 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of the county and replaces them with 63 new ones. That article, the map and the Schedule also establish the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each electoral division.

Article 5 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Barnard Castle and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 6 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Bishop Auckland and replaces them with 4 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 7 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Brandon and Byshottles and replaces them with 6 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 8 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Cornsay and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 9 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Dalton-le-Dale and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 10 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Edmondsley and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 11 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Great Aycliffe and replaces them with 8 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 12 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Haswell and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 13 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Marwood and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 14 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Peterlee and replaces them with 5 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 15 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Seaham and replaces them with 6 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 16 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Shadforth and replaces them with 3 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 17 establishes 2 wards for the parish of Shincliffe. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 18 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Spennymoor and replaces them with 6 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 19 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Stanley and replaces them with 7 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

Article 20 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Wolsingham and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new wards and the number of councillors for each ward.

The map defined in article 3 shows the new county electoral divisions and parish wards. It is available at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/north-east/durham/county-durham-electoral-review; it is also available, at all reasonable times, at the offices of the council of the county of Durham and at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at Layden House, 76 – 86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.