The Milton Keynes (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Made: 18th November 2025

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2), (3), (4) and (5)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009[^f00001] (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00002] (“the Commission”) published a report dated June 2025[^f00003] stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the city of Milton Keynes. 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 Milton Keynes (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

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

• (3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force—

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

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England[^f00004] in 2026.

• (4) Articles 5 and 6 come 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) Article 7 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2027;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028.

• (6) 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 Milton Keynes (Electoral Changes) Order 2025” held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00005].

• (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 that feature.

Wards of the city of Milton Keynes and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing wards of the city of Milton Keynes are abolished.

• (2) The city of Milton Keynes is divided into the 21 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

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

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

Elections of the city of Milton Keynes

4

• (1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the city of Milton Keynes are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

• (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 England in 2026 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 2026, each is to retire in accordance with the provision made in the table in Schedule 2.

• (4) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2026—

• (a) the first councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes, and

• (b) the second councillor for each ward 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 is to retire under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in the year in which the retirement is due to take place, and any newly elected councillor is 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.

Parish wards of the parishes of Broughton & Milton Keynes, Kents Hill & Monkston, Stantonbury and Walton and number of councillors

5

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Broughton & Milton Keynes, Kents Hill & Monkston, Stantonbury and Walton are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Broughton & Milton Keynes is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 3.

• (3) The parish of Kents Hill & Monkston is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 3.

• (4) The parish of Stantonbury is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 3.

• (5) The parish of Walton is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 3.

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

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

Parish wards of the parish of Whitehouse and number of councillors

6

• (1) The parish of Whitehouse is divided into two parish wards, namely—

• (a) East;

• (b) West.

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

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

Parish wards of the parish of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford and number of councillors

7

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford is divided into the nine parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 5.

• (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified 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 parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 5.

Schedule 1 — Wards of the city of Milton Keynes and number of councillors

Schedule 2 — Retirement of councillors elected in 2026

Schedule 3 — Parish wards of the parishes of Broughton & Milton Keynes, Kents Hill & Monkston, Stantonbury and Walton and number of councillors

Schedule 4 — Parish wards of the parish of Whitehouse and number of councillors

Schedule 5 — Parish wards of the parish of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford and number of councillors

Signed

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

Ailsa Irvine — Chief Executive — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 18th November 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the city of Milton Keynes following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the city itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the city of Milton Keynes and replaces them with the 21 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes provision for a whole council election in 2026. Subsequently, the council will revert to the existing system of election by thirds. Article 4 also provides for the order of retirement of councillors in 2027, 2028 and 2030 and the election of their replacements.

Article 5 makes changes to parish wards that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 5 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

Article 6 makes similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Whitehouse, which was previously un-warded, for the purpose of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

Article 7 makes similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford, for the purpose of parish elections in 2028 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map is also accessible online at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/milton-keynes/.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector 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]: The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/milton-keynes//.

[^f00004]: 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).

[^f00005]: The map is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/milton-keynes/.