The Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022

Statutory Instruments

2022 No. 823

Local Government, England

The Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022

Made

18th July 2022

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) to (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 September 2021(3) stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Suffolk. 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.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on 15th October 2024.

(3) Article 3 comes into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2024;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England(4) in 2025.

(4) Article 4 comes into force—

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2026;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

(5) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order, “ the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(5).

(2) 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.

Divisions of Suffolk and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing divisions of Suffolk are abolished.

(2) Suffolk is divided into the 69 divisions listed in Schedule 1.

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

(4) One councillor is to be elected for each division listed in Schedule 1 other than the division of Beccles & Kessingland for which two councillors are to be elected.

Parish wards of parishes in Suffolk and number of councillors

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

(a) Felixstowe;

(b) Haverhill;

(c) Kesgrave;

(d) Lowestoft;

(e) Melton;

(f) Oulton Broad;

(g) Stowmarket.

(2) The parish of Felixstowe is divided into five parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3) The parish of Haverhill is divided into eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

(4) The parish of Kesgrave is divided into three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

(5) The parish of Lowestoft is divided into 11 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

(6) The parish of Melton is divided into two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 5 in Schedule 2.

(7) The parish of Oulton Broad is divided into four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 6 in Schedule 2.

(8) The parish of Stowmarket is divided into seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 7 in Schedule 2.

(9) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

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

18th July 2022

Article 3(2)

SCHEDULE 1 Names of divisions

1.  Abbeygate & Minden

2.  Aldeburgh & Leiston

3.  Barrow & Thingoe

4.  Beccles & Kessingland

5.  Belstead Hills

6.  Bixley

7.  Blackbourn

8.  Blyth Estuary

9.  Bosmere

10.  Brandon

11.  Bridge

12.  Brook

13.  Bungay

14.  Carlford

15.  Carlton & Whitton

16.  Carlton Colville

17.  Clare

18.  Constable

19.  Cornard & Sudbury East

20.  Cosford

21.  Eastgate & Moreton Hall

22.  Exning & Newmarket

23.  Felixstowe Clifflands

24.  Felixstowe Maritime

25.  Framlingham & Wickham Market

26.  Gainsborough

27.  Gipping

28.  Gipping Valley

29.  Gunton

30.  Hadleigh

31.  Halesworth

32.  Harbour

33.  Hardwick

34.  Hartismere

35.  Haverhill East & Rural

36.  Haverhill North West & Withersfield

37.  Haverhill South

38.  Hoxne & Eye

39.  Kesgrave

40.  Kirkley & Pakefield

41.  Martlesham

42.  Melford

43.  Mildenhall

44.  Newmarket & Red Lodge

45.  Oulton

46.  Oulton Broad & Normanston

47.  Peninsula

48.  Priory Heath

49.  Row Heath

50.  Rushmere

51.  Rushmere St Andrew

52.  Saxmundham & District

53.  St Clement’s

54.  St Margaret’s

55.  St Olaves & Tollgate

56.  Stour Valley

57.  Stowmarket East

58.  Stowmarket West

59.  Sudbury West

60.  Thedwastre North

61.  Thedwastre South

62.  Thredling

63.  Upper Gipping

64.  Walton & Trimleys

65.  Westbourne

66.  Westgate

67.  Whitton

68.  Wilford

69.  Woodbridge

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Felixstowe

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Central	3
East	3
Port	5
South	2
Walton	3

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of Haverhill

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Central	1
East	3
Mount Road	1
North	3
North West	2
South	3
South East	2
West	1

Table 3

Parish wards of the parish of Kesgrave

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
East	7
Central	6
West	3

Table 4

Parish wards of the parish of Lowestoft

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Elmtree	2
Gunton	1
Harbour	5
Kirkley	3
Normanston	1
Pakefield	2
Pakefield Park	1
St Margaret’s East	2
St Margaret’s West	1
Tom Crisp	1
Uplands	1

Table 5

Parish wards of the parish of Melton

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
North	8
South	7

Table 6

Parish wards of the parish of Oulton Broad

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Oulton Broad North	6
Oulton Broad North East	1
Oulton Broad South East	3
Oulton Broad South West	2

Table 7

Parish wards of the parish of Stowmarket

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Chilton North	3
Chilton South	2
Combs Ford	5
St Peter’s North	1
St Peter’s South	1
Stow Thorney North	1
Stow Thorney South	3

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Suffolk following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the county remains unchanged.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of Suffolk and replaces them with 69 new ones for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025. It establishes the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027 that are consequential on the changes made by article 3.

The area covered by each division and parish ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL.

The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-county-council.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

(1)

2009 c. 20.

(2)

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.

(3)

The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-county-council

(4)

The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), renumbered by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4).

(5)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-county-council