The Knowsley (Electoral Changes) Order 2015

Made: 11th December 2015

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

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

Citation and commencement

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Knowsley (Electoral Changes) Order 2015.

• (2) This article and article 2 of this Order come into force on the day after this Order is made.

• (3) Articles 3 and 4 of this Order come into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after this Order is made;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors[^f00003] in 2016.

• (4) The remainder of this Order comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after this Order is made;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019.

Interpretation

2

In this Order “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Knowsley (Electoral Changes) Order 2015”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00004].

Wards of the district of Knowsley and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing wards of the district of Knowsley are abolished.

• (2) The district of Knowsley is divided into the 15 wards in the following list—

• Cherryfield

• Halewood North

• Halewood South

• Northwood

• Page Moss

• Prescot North

• Prescot South

• Roby

• Shevington

• St Gabriels

• St Michaels

• Stockbridge

• Swanside

• Whiston & Cronton

• Whitefield

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

• (4) Three councillors are to be elected for each ward.

• (5) 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.

Elections of the council of the district of Knowsley

4

• (1) Elections of all councillors of each ward of the district of Knowsley are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016.

• (2) The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016 are to retire on that fourth day and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.

• (3) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2016, one shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2018, one on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019 and one on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2020.

• (4) Of the councillors elected in 2016, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6)—

• (a) the first to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and

• (b) the second to retire is to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.

• (5) In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any year, the person to retire in that year is to be determined by lot.

• (6) If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year is to be determined by lot.

• (7) An election to replace a councillor who retires under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year in which the retirement took place; and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on the fourth day after that day.

• (8) Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot is to be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing is to be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

Wards of the parish of Halewood and number of councillors

5

• (1) The existing wards of the parish of Halewood are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Halewood is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 1 in the Schedule.

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

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of table 1 in the Schedule.

Wards of the parish of Knowsley and number of councillors

6

• (1) The existing wards of the parish of Knowsley are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Knowsley is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 2 in the Schedule.

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

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

Wards of the parish of Prescot and number of councillors

7

• (1) The existing wards of the parish of Prescot are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Prescot is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 3 in the Schedule.

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

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of table 3 in the Schedule.

Wards of the parish of Whiston and number of councillors

8

• (1) The existing wards of the parish of Whiston are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Whiston is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 4 in the Schedule.

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

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of table 4 in the Schedule.

SCHEDULE — Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Signed

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

Max Caller — Chairman — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — Date 11th December 2015

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Knowsley following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the district remains unchanged. The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2016.

Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the district of Knowsley and replaces them with 15 new ones. That article and the map (as defined in article 2) also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new district wards.

Article 4 makes provision for a whole district council election in 2016. Subsequently, the council will revert to the existing system of election by thirds. That article also provides for the order of retirement of councillors in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the election of their replacements.

Articles 5 to 8 abolish the existing wards of the parishes of (i) Halewood, (ii) Knowsley, (iii) Prescot and (iv) Whiston respectively and replace them with new ones. Those articles and the map also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new district and parish wards. It is available at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/north-west/merseyside/knowsley The map is also available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP.

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.

[^f00003]: The ordinary day of election of councillors is prescribed by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 c.2.

[^f00004]: Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP and is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/north-west/merseyside/knowsley