The Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2024

Statutory Instruments

2024 No. 435

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

The Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2024

Made

26th March 2024

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

Under section 92(2) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007(1), Wealden District Council (“the Council”) made recommendations in a review to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) for the related alteration of the boundaries of a number of district wards, and the related alteration of the boundary between two county electoral divisions within the Council’s area.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has decided to give effect to the recommendations and makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 92(3) of that Act.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2024.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which 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 15th October 2024;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England(3) 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.  In this Order, “ the Council’s Order” means the Wealden (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2023(4).

Alteration of county electoral division boundaries

3.  In the parish of Willingdon & Jevington—

(a) the area of the parish ward of Watermill that becomes part of the parish ward of Lower Willingdon by virtue of the Council’s Order ceases to be part of the Polegate & Watermill county electoral division and becomes part of the Willingdon & South Downs county electoral division, and

(b) the area of the parish ward of Watermill that becomes part of the parish ward of Jevington by virtue of the Council’s Order ceases to be part of the Polegate & Watermill county electoral division and becomes part of the Willingdon & South Downs county electoral division.

Alteration of district ward boundaries

4.  In the parish of Willingdon & Jevington—

(a) the area of the parish ward of Upper Willingdon that becomes part of the parish ward of Lower Willingdon by virtue of the Council’s Order ceases to be part of the Upper Willingdon district ward and becomes part of the Lower Willingdon district ward,

(b) the area of the parish ward of Watermill that becomes part of the parish ward of Lower Willingdon by virtue of the Council’s Order ceases to be part of the Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill district ward and becomes part of the Lower Willingdon district ward, and

(c) the area of the parish ward of Watermill that becomes part of the parish ward of Jevington by virtue of the Council’s Order ceases to be part of the Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill district ward and becomes part of the Lower Willingdon district ward.

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

Ailsa Irvine

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

26th March 2024

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to recommendations made by Wealden District Council (“the Council”) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for the related alteration to the boundaries of a number of district wards, and the related alteration of the boundary between two county electoral divisions within the Council’s area.

The alterations are a consequence of changes to parish boundaries and warding arrangements under the Wealden (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2023, which was made by the Council under powers including section 86 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28). A hard copy of that Order is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of Wealden District Council, Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX. It is also available online at https://www.wealden.gov.uk/UploadedFiles/CC-The-Wealden-Reorganisation-of-Commnuity-Governance-Order-2023-with-maps-FINAL.pdf.

The changes described in article 3 (in relation to county electoral divisions) apply in respect of elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025.

The changes described in article 4 (in relation to district wards) apply in respect of elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

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

(1)

2007 c. 28 (“the 2007 Act”). Section 92 was amended by paragraph 32 of Schedule 4 to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) (“the 2009 Act”).

(2)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the 2009 Act. The functions of the Electoral Commission under Chapter 3 of Part 4 of the 2007 Act were transferred under section 60 of the 2009 Act to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on 1st April 2010.

(3)

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).

(4)

That Order was made by Wealden District Council on 27th February 2023, and is available for inspection at the offices of Wealden District Council, Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX. Such Orders are not required to be made by statutory instrument. It is also available online at https://www.wealden.gov.uk/UploadedFiles/CC-The-Wealden-Reorganisation-of-Commnuity-Governance-Order-2023-with-maps-FINAL.pdf.