2015 No. 1873

Local Government, England

The Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2015

Made

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) – (5)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated May 2015 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Hertfordshire. 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 Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2015.

2

This article, article 2 and article 12 come into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after this Order is made;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016.

3

Article 3 comes into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2016;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2017.

4

Articles 7, 10 and 11 come into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2017;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2018.

5

Articles 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 13 come into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2018;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019.

Interpretation2

In this Order—

  • “map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2015”, 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.

Electoral divisions of the county of Hertfordshire and number of councillors3

1

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

2

The county of Hertfordshire is divided into 78 county electoral divisions, each listed by name in Schedule 1.

3

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

4

One councillor is to be elected for each electoral division.

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 Abbots Langley and number of councillors4

1

The existing wards of the parish of Abbots Langley are abolished.

2

The parish of Abbots Langley is divided into seven parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 1 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Berkhamsted and number of councillors5

1

The existing wards of the parish of Berkhamsted are abolished.

2

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

3

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

4

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 table 2 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Chorleywood and number of councillors6

1

The existing wards of the parish of Chorleywood are abolished.

2

The parish of Chorleywood is divided into five parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 3 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Colney Heath and number of councillors7

1

The existing wards of the parish of Colney Heath are abolished.

2

The parish of Colney Heath is divided into three parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 4 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Elstree & Borehamwood and number of councillors8

1

The existing wards of the parish of Elstree & Borehamwood are abolished.

2

The parish of Elstree & Borehamwood is divided into seven parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 5 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 5 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Hatfield and number of councillors9

1

The existing wards of the parish of Hatfield are abolished.

2

The parish of Hatfield is divided into seven parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 6 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 6 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Royston and number of councillors10

1

The existing wards of the parish of Royston are abolished.

2

The parish of Royston is divided into four parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 7 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 7 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of St Michael and number of councillors11

1

The parish of St Michael is divided into two parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 8 in Schedule 2.

2

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

3

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 table 8 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Sandridge and number of councillors12

1

The existing wards of the parish of Sandridge are abolished.

2

The parish of Sandridge is divided into four parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 9 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 9 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Watford Rural and number of councillors13

1

The existing wards of the parish of Watford Rural are abolished.

2

The parish of Watford Rural is divided into five parish wards, each listed by name in the first column of table 10 in Schedule 2.

3

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

4

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 table 10 in Schedule 2.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

seal_r00001Max CallerChairmanLocal Government Boundary Commission for England

SCHEDULE 1Names of county electoral divisions

Article 3

In Broxbourne Borough

Cheshunt Central

Flamstead End & Turnford

Goffs Oak & Bury Green

Hoddesdon North

Hoddesdon South

Waltham Cross

In Dacorum Borough

Berkhamsted

Bridgewater

Hemel Hempstead East

Hemel Hempstead North East

Hemel Hempstead North West

Hemel Hempstead South East

Hemel Hempstead St Pauls

Hemel Hempstead Town

Kings Langley

Tring

In East Hertfordshire District

Bishops Stortford East

Bishops Stortford Rural

Bishops Stortford West

Buntingford

Hertford All Saints

Hertford Rural

Hertford St Andrews

Sawbridgeworth

Ware North

Ware South

In Hertsmere Borough

Borehamwood North

Borehamwood South

Bushey North

Bushey South

Potters Bar East

Potters Bar West & Shenley

Watling

In North Hertfordshire District

Baldock & Letchworth East

Hitchin North

Hitchin Rural

Hitchin South

Knebworth & Codicote

Letchworth North

Letchworth South

Royston East & Ermine

Royston West & Rural

In St Albans City

Colney Heath & Marshalswick

Harpenden North East

Harpenden Rural

Harpenden South West

London Colney

St Albans Central

St Albans East

St Albans North

St Albans South

St Stephen’s

In Stevenage Borough

Bedwell

Broadwater

Chells

Old Stevenage

Shephall

St Nicholas

In Three Rivers District

Abbots Langley

Croxley

Rickmansworth East & Oxhey Park

Rickmansworth West

South Oxhey & Eastbury

Three Rivers Rural

In Watford Borough

Central Watford & Oxhey

Meriden Tudor

Nascot Park

North Watford

West Watford

Woodside Stanborough

In Welwyn Hatfield Borough

Haldens

Handside & Peartree

Hatfield East

Hatfield North

Hatfield Rural

Hatfield South

Welwyn

Welwyn Garden City South

SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Articles 4 to 13

Table 1Wards of the parish of Abbots Langley and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Abbots Langley

4

Abbots Langley West

1

Bedmond

1

Hunton Bridge & Langleybury

1

Hunton Park

1

Leavesden

5

Primrose Hill

2

Table 2Wards of the parish of Berkhamsted and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

All Saints

3

Berkhamsted Castle

5

Berkhamsted East

5

Lagley

2

Table 3Wards of the parish of Chorleywood and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Chorleywood Cedars

2

Chorleywood Common & Loudwater

5

Chorleywood East

2

Chorleywood Quickswood

1

Chorleywood South

7

Table 4Wards of the parish of Colney Heath and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Colney Heath

4

Highfield

4

Hill End

1

Table 5Wards of the parish of Elstree & Borehamwood and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Borehamwood Brookmeadow

2

Borehamwood Cowley Hill

3

Borehamwood Hillside

3

Borehamwood Kenilworth North

1

Borehamwood Kenilworth South

1

Borehamwood Shenley Road

1

Elstree

2

Table 6Wards of the parish of Hatfield and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Central

3

East

3

Newgate Street & Wildhill

1

Oxlease

2

South

2

Villages

3

West

1

Table 7Wards of the parish of Royston and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Royston Meridian

2

Royston Palace

2

Royston South

1

Royston West

1

Table 8Wards of the parish of St Michael and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

St Michael

6

St Michael South East

1

Table 9Wards of the parish of Sandridge and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Jersey Farm

4

Marshalswick East

4

Marshalswick West

4

Village

2

Table 10Wards of the parish of Watford Rural and number of councillors

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Ashridge

1

Carpenders Park

4

Hayling

2

Oxhey Hall

2

South Oxhey

5

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the county of Hertfordshire 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 2016.

Article 3 abolishes the existing county electoral divisions of the county of Hertfordshire and replaces them with 78 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 county electoral divisions.

Articles 4 to 10, 12 and 13 abolish the existing wards of the parishes of (i) Abbots Langley, (ii) Berkhamsted, (iii) Chorleywood, (iv) Colney Heath, (v) Elstree & Borehamwood, (vi) Hatfield, (vii) Royston (viii) Sandridge and (ix) Watford Rural respectively and replace them with new ones. Article 11 creates parish wards in the parish of St Michael, which was formerly unwarded. Those articles, the map and Schedule 2 also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new county electoral divisions and parish wards. It is available at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/eastern/hertfordshire/hertfordshire-county-council. The map is also available for inspection at all reasonable times at the offices of Hertfordshire County Council, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8DQ and at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at 14th Floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP.

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