The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015

Statutory Instruments

2015 No. 2063

Local Government, England

The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015

Made

11th December 2015

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2), (3) and (4)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1) (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) (“the Commission”) published a report dated June 2015 stating its recommendation for changes to the electoral arrangements for the city of Winchester. 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 commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015.

(2) This article and article 2 of this Order come into force on the day after this Order is made.

(3) Articles 3, 4, 6 and 8 of, Schedules 1 and 2 and Schedule 3 (insofar as it relates to articles 6 and 8) to, this Order come into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after it is made;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors(3) in 2016.

(4) Articles 5 and 7 of, and Schedule 3 (insofar as it relates to those articles) to, this Order come into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after it is made;

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

Interpretation

2.  In this Order “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(4).

Wards of the city of Winchester and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the city of Winchester are abolished.

(2) The city of Winchester is divided into 16 wards, each listed by name in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

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

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in 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.

Elections of the council of the city of Winchester

4.—(1) Elections of all councillors of each ward of the city of Winchester are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016.

(2) The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016 are to retire on that fourth day and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.

(3) The newly elected councillors are to retire at the times specified in the table in Schedule 2.

(4) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2016, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6)—

(a) the first to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and

(b) the second to retire is to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.

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

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

(7) An election to replace a councillor who retires under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year in which the retirement took place; and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on the fourth day after that day.

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

Wards of the parish of Littleton & Harestock and number of councillors

5.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Littleton & Harestock are abolished.

(2) The parish of Littleton & Harestock is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 3.

(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 3.

Wards of the parish of Shedfield and number of councillors

6.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Shedfield are abolished.

(2) The parish of Shedfield is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 3.

(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 3.

Wards of the parish of South Wonston and number of councillors

7.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of South Wonston are abolished.

(2) The parish of South Wonston is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 3.

(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 3.

Wards of the parish of Southwick & Widley and number of councillors

8.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Southwick & Widley are abolished.

(2) The parish of Southwick & Widley is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 3.

(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 3.

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

Max Caller

Chairman

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Date 11th December 2015

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of district wards and number of councillors

(1) Name of district ward	(2) Number of councillors
Alresford & Itchen Valley Badger Farm & Oliver’s Battery Bishop’s Waltham Central Meon Valley Colden Common & Twyford Denmead St Barnabas St Bartholomew St Luke St Michael St Paul Southwick & Wickham The Worthys Upper Meon Valley Whiteley & Shedfield Wonston & Micheldever	3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2 Retirement times of councillors

(1) Name of ward	(2) Number of councillors to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2018	(3) Number of councillors to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2019	(4) Number of councillors to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2020
Alresford & Itchen Valley	1	1	1
Badger Farm & Oliver’s Battery	1	1	1
Bishop’s Waltham	1	1	1
Central Meon Valley	1	1	1
Colden Common & Twyford	1	1	0
Denmead	1	1	1
St Barnabas	1	1	1
St Bartholomew	1	1	1
St Luke	0	1	1
St Michael	1	1	1
St Paul	1	1	1
Southwick & Wickham	1	1	1
The Worthys	1	1	1
Upper Meon Valley	1	1	0
Whiteley & Shedfield	1	1	1
Wonston & Micheldever	1	1	1

Articles 5 to 8

SCHEDULE 3 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Wards of the parish of Littleton & Harestock

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Harestock Littleton	8 3

Table 1

Wards of the parish of Shedfield

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Shedfield Waltham Chase	6 8

Table 3

Wards of the parish of South Wonston

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
South Wonston Worthy Down	7 1

Table 4

Wards of the parish of Southwick & Widley

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
North East Southwick & Widley	1 8

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the city of Winchester following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the city 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 wards of the city of Winchester and replaces them with 16 new ones. That article and the map (as defined in article 2) also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new wards.

Article 4 makes provision for a whole city council election in 2016. Subsequently, the council will revert to the existing system of election by thirds. That article also provides for the order of retirement of councillors in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the election of their replacements.

Articles 5 to 8 abolish the existing wards of the parishes of (i) Littleton & Harestock, (ii) Shedfield, (iii) South Wonston and (iv) Southwick & Widley respectively and replace them with new ones. Those articles and the map also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new city and parish wards. It is available at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/hampshire/winchester The map is also available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 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.

(1)

2009 c.20.

(2)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1^st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

(3)

The ordinary day of election of councillors is prescribed by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 c.2.

(4)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP and is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/hampshire/winchester