Statutory Instruments
Local Government, England
Made
17th December 2018
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)
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 October 2018 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for West Suffolk(3). 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 since the day on which it was laid 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.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
See S.I. 2018/639 which abolishes the districts of Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury on 1st April 2019. On the same day, article 3 of that instrument establishes West Suffolk as a new non-metropolitan district. The sole principal authority for the non-metropolitan district of West Suffolk is to be West Suffolk Council. Article 20 of that instrument also makes provision in respect of elections to that Council, in particular by specifying the number of wards which is to comprise West Suffolk and the number of councillors to be elected for each of those wards. Section 60(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) provided for the transfer of functions under Part 1 (Structural and Boundary Change in England) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28) (“the 2007 Act”) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is obliged, by virtue of section 12(5) of the 2007 Act, to consider whether to exercise its power to conduct a review under section 56(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 as soon as reasonably practicable following the making of an Order under section 10 of the 2007 Act (under which power, amongst others, S.I. 2018/639 was made). This Order gives effect to the recommendations arising from that review.