Citation and commencement

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Swale (Electoral Changes) Order 2012.

(2) 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 2015.

Interpretation

2. In this Order-

"map" means the map marked "Map referred to in the Swale (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(4).

Wards of the district of Swale and number of councillors

3.-(1) The existing wards of the district of Swale are abolished.

(2) The district is divided into twenty-four wards, each listed by name in the first column of Schedule 1.

(3) Each ward comprises the area designated 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 Schedule 1.

(5) 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 number of councillors

4.-(1) The existing wards of the parishes of Faversham and Minster-on-Sea are abolished.

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

(3) The parish of Faversham is divided into four wards, each listed by name in the first column of the second table in Schedule 2.

(4) The parish of Minster-on-Sea is divided into three wards, each listed by name in the first column of the third table in Schedule 2.

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

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

(7) 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.

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

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1Names of district wards and numbers of councillors

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and numbers of councillors

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Swale 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 2015.

Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the district and replaces them with twenty-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 wards.

Article 4 replaces the wards of the parishes of Faversham and Minster-on-Sea and establishes wards in the parishes of Bobbing and Tunstall. 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 district and parish wards. It is available at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/kent/swale-electoral-review. The map is also available at all reasonable times at the office of the council of the district of Swale at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3HT 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.