The Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2012

Made: 29th November 2012

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

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the 2009 Act:

Citation and commencement

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2012.

• (2) With the exception of article 4, 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 2013.

• (3) Article 4 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2014;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.

Interpretation

2

In this Order—

• “map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2012”, prints of which are available for inspection at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;

• “ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00003].

Divisions of the county of Somerset and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing divisions of the county of Somerset are abolished.

• (2) The county is divided into fifty-four divisions, each bearing a name listed in Schedule 1.

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

• (4) With the exception of Glastonbury and Street, one councillor is to be elected for each division.

• (5) Two councillors are to be elected for Glastonbury and Street.

• (6) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographic feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Parish wards and numbers of councillors

4

• (1) The existing wards of the following parishes are abolished –

• (a) Bridgwater;

• (b) Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge;

• (c) Frome;

• (d) St Cuthbert Out;

• (e) Wellington;

• (f) Yeovil;

• (g) Yeovil Without.

• (2) The parish of Bridgwater is divided into nine wards, each listed by name in the first column of the first table in Schedule 2.

• (3) The parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge is divided into five wards, each listed by name in the first column of the second table in Schedule 2.

• (4) The parish of Frome is divided into eight wards, each listed by name in the first column of the third table in Schedule 2.

• (5) The parish of Selwood is divided into two wards, each listed by name in the first column of the fourth table in Schedule 2.

• (6) The parish of St Cuthbert Out is divided into four wards, each listed by name in the first column of the fifth table in Schedule 2.

• (7) The parish of Wellington is divided into five wards, each listed by name in the first column of the sixth table in Schedule 2.

• (8) The parish of Yeovil is divided into eleven wards, each listed by name in the first column of the seventh table in Schedule 2.

• (9) The parish of Yeovil Without is divided into three wards, each listed by name in the first column of the eighth table in Schedule 2.

• (10) Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

• (11) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of each table in Schedule 2.

SCHEDULE 1 — Names of county divisions

SCHEDULE 2 — Names of parish wards and numbers of councillors

Signed

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the 29th day of November 2012

Max Caller — Chairman — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 29th November 2012

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order makes changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Somerset following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2013.

Article 3 abolishes the existing divisions of the county and replaces them with fifty-four new ones. That article, the map (as defined in article 2) and Schedule 1 establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new divisions.

Article 4 replaces the wards of the parishes of Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, Frome, St Cuthbert Out, Wellington, Yeovil and Yeovil Without and establishes wards in the parish of Selwood. That article, the map and Schedule 2 establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new wards.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new county divisions and parish wards. It is available at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-west/somerset/somerset-county-council-fer. The map is also available at all reasonable times at the office of the council of the county of Somerset at County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY and the office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG.

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

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2009 c.20.

[^f00002]: 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 (c.20).

[^f00003]: 1983 c.2. Section 37 has been amended by the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c.50), section 18(2) (repealed), the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c.29), Schedule 3, paragraph 5 and the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c.28), section 60(1).