2014 No. 24

Local Government, England

The Vale of White Horse (Electoral Changes) Order 2014

Made

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 published a report dated March 2013 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Vale of White Horse. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

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 Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act:

Citation and commencement1

1

This Order may be cited as the Vale of White Horse (Electoral Changes) Order 2014.

2

This Order comes into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2014;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.

Interpretation2

In this Order—

  • “map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Vale of White Horse (Electoral Changes) Order 2014”, prints of which 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.

Wards of the district of Vale of White Horse and number of councillors3

1

The existing wards of the district of Vale of White Horse are abolished.

2

The district of Vale of White Horse is divided into 24 district wards, each listed by name in the first column of Schedule 1.

3

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

4

The number of councillors to be elected for each district ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of Schedule 1.

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.

Parish wards and number of councillors4

1

The existing wards of the following parishes are abolished—

a

Abingdon-on-Thames4;

b

Milton;

c

St Helen Without;

d

Wantage.

2

The parish of Abingdon-on-Thames is divided into seven parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the first table in Schedule 2.

3

The parish of Grove is divided into three parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the second table in Schedule 2.

4

The parish of Harwell is divided into two parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the third table in Schedule 2.

5

The parish of Milton is divided into two parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the fourth table in Schedule 2.

6

The parish of St Helen Without is divided into two parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the fifth table in Schedule 2.

7

The parish of Wantage is divided into two parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of the sixth table in Schedule 2.

8

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

9

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of each table in Schedule 2.

Amendment and revocation5

In the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 20125—

a

in article 2(2), delete the reference to article “5”;

b

article 5 is revoked.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the 8th day of January 2014

seal_r00001Max CallerChairmanLocal Government Boundary Commission for England

SCHEDULE 1

Article 3

Names of district wards and number of councillors

(1)

Name of district ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Abingdon Abbey Northcourt

2

Abingdon Caldecott

2

Abingdon Dunmore

2

Abingdon Fitzharris

2

Abingdon Peachcroft

2

Blewbury & Harwell

2

Botley & Sunningwell

2

Cumnor

2

Drayton

1

Faringdon

2

Grove North

2

Hendreds

1

Kennington & Radley

2

Kingston Bagpuize

1

Marcham

1

Ridgeway

1

Stanford

1

Steventon & the Hanneys

1

Sutton Courtenay

1

Thames

1

Wantage & Grove Brook

2

Wantage Charlton

2

Watchfield & Shrivenham

2

Wootton

1

SCHEDULE 2

Article 4

Table 1Abingdon-on-Thames

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Abbey

3

Caldecott

3

Dunmore

3

Fitzharris North

3

Fitzharris South

3

Northcourt

3

Peachcroft

3

Table 2Grove

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Crab Hill

1

Grove Brook

4

Grove North

11

Table 3Harwell

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Harwell

9

Harwell Oxford Campus

2

Table 4Milton

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Heights

4

Village

3

Table 5St Helen Without

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Dry Sandford

5

Shippon

5

Table 6Wantage

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Segsbury

6

Wantage Charlton

10

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Vale of White Horse following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the district 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 2015.

Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the district of Vale of White Horse and replaces them with 24 new ones. That article, the map (as defined in article 2) and Schedule 1 also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new district wards.

Article 4 replaces the existing wards of the parishes of Abingdon-on-Thames, Milton, St Helen Without and Wantage and establishes wards in the parishes of Grove and Harwell which were formerly unwarded. That article, the map and Schedule 2 also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.

Article 5 of the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2012 abolishes the existing wards of the parish of Abingdon and replaces them with eight new ones. That article is revoked by article 5(b) of this Order, and, by virtue of article 5(a), will not come into force.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new district wards and parish wards. It is available at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/oxfordshire/vale-of-white-horse-fer. The map is also available for inspection at all reasonable times at the offices of Vale of White Horse District Council at Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon-On-Thames, OX14 3JE and at the offices 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.