The Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016

Statutory Instruments

2016 No. 658

Local Government, England

The Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016

Made

7th June 2016

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 January 2016 stating its recommendation for changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Kent. 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 Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016.

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

(3) Article 3 comes 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 2017.

(4) The remainder of this Order comes 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 Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Divisions of the county of Kent and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing divisions of the county of Kent are abolished.

(2) The county of Kent is divided into 72 divisions as listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

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

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each division is the number specified in relation to that division 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.

Wards of the parish of Chartham and number of councillors

4.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Chartham are abolished.

(2) The parish of Chartham is divided into two parish wards as listed 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 Folkestone and number of councillors

5.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Folkestone are abolished.

(2) The parish of Folkestone is divided into seven parish wards as listed 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 Shorne and number of councillors

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

(2) The parish of Shorne is divided into two parish wards as listed 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.

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

Jolyon Jackson

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

7th June 2016

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of county divisions and number of councillors

(1) Name of county division

(2) Number of councillors

Ashford Central Ashford East Ashford Rural East Ashford Rural South Ashford Rural West Ashford South Birchington & Rural Broadstairs Canterbury City North Canterbury City South Canterbury North Canterbury South Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East Cliftonville Cranbrook Dartford East Dartford North East Dartford Rural Dartford West Deal & Walmer Dover North Dover Town Dover West Elham Valley Faversham Folkestone East Folkestone West Gravesend East Gravesham Rural Herne Bay East Herne Village & Sturry Hythe West Maidstone Central Maidstone North East Maidstone Rural East Maidstone Rural North Maidstone Rural South Maidstone Rural West Maidstone South Maidstone South East Malling Central Malling North Malling North East Malling Rural East Malling West Margate Northfleet & Gravesend West Ramsgate Romney Marsh Sandwich Sevenoaks North & Darent Valley Sevenoaks Rural North East Sevenoaks Rural South Sevenoaks Town Sevenoaks West Sheppey Sittingbourne North Sittingbourne South Swale East Swale West Swanley Swanscombe & Greenhithe Tenterden Tonbridge Tunbridge Wells East Tunbridge Wells North Tunbridge Wells Rural Tunbridge Wells South Tunbridge Wells West Whitstable East & Herne Bay West Whitstable West Wilmington

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Articles 4 to 6

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Wards of the parish of Chartham

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Chartham & Chartham Hatch St Augustine’s	7 4

Table 2

Wards of the parish of Folkestone

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Broadmead Central Cheriton East Cheriton West East Folkestone Harbour Harvey West	2 4 1 3 4 3 1

Table 3

Wards of the parish of Shorne

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Shorne Village Shorne West	6 3

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the county of Kent following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the county remains unchanged. The electoral changes in article 3 apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2017. The electoral change in articles 4 to 6 apply in respect of such elections in 2019.

Article 3 abolishes the existing divisions of the county of Kent and replaces them with 72 new ones. That article and the map (as defined in article 2) also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new divisions.

Articles 4 to 6 abolish the existing wards of the parishes of (i) Chartham, (ii) Folkestone and (iii) Shorne 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 county divisions and parish wards. It is available at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/27422/Kent_F_Sh1_SO.pdf. 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.