Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

56 Review of electoral arrangements

(1) The Local Government Boundary Commission for England must from time to time—

(a) conduct a review of the area of each principal council, and

(b) recommend whether a change should be made to the electoral arrangements for that area.

(2) The Local Government Boundary Commission for England may at any time—

(a) conduct a review of all or any part of the area of a principal council, and

(b) recommend whether a change should be made to the electoral arrangements for the area of the principal council.

(3) In this Part “principal council” means—

(a) a county council in England;

(b) a district council;

(c) the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(d) a London borough council.

(4) In this Part “electoral arrangements”, in relation to the area of a principal council, means—

(a) the total number of members of the council (“councillors”),

(b) the number and boundaries of electoral areas for the purposes of the election of councillors,

(c) the number of councillors to be returned by any electoral area in that area, and

(d) the name of any electoral area.

(5) Where under this section the Local Government Boundary Commission for England recommends that a change should be made to the electoral arrangements for the area of a principal council, the Commission must also recommend whether, in consequence, a change should be made to the electoral arrangements for the area of any parish council, where that area is within the area of the principal council.

(6) In this Part “electoral arrangements”, in relation to the area of a parish council, means—

(a) the total number of members of the parish council (“parish councillors”),

(b) arrangements for the division of the parish or (in the case of a common parish council) any of the parishes into wards for the purposes of the election of parish councillors,

(c) the number and boundaries of any wards,

(d) the number of parish councillors to be returned by any ward or, in the case of a common parish council, by each parish, and

(e) the name of any ward.

(7) Section 6(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (electoral divisions of non-metropolitan county to return one councillor each) does not limit the recommendations that may be made under this section.

(8) Schedule 2 (which makes further provision relating to recommendations under this section) is part of this Part.

(9) A principal council or parish council must, if requested by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to do so, provide the Commission, by such date as it may specify, with any information that it may reasonably require in connection with its functions under this section.