13.—(1) A whole council election of councillors of Bedford Borough Council shall be held on the 2009 election day, and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2011 and in every fourth year thereafter(1).
(2) Notwithstanding section 7(8) and (9) of the 1972 Act (elections of councillors), the term of office of all councillors elected to Bedford Borough Council at the 2009 election shall be two years(2).
(3) For the purposes of the 2009 election—
(a)the wards of Brickhill, Bromham, Castle, Cauldwell, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston South, Kingsbrook, Putnoe and Wootton shall each return two councillors; and
(b)the other district wards(3) shall each return one councillor;
(4) The proper officer of Bedford Borough Council shall take such steps as are necessary or appropriate to prepare for the 2009 election, including the making of all necessary alterations in the electoral register.
(5) All councillors shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year of retirement and the newly-elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.
See section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c.2).
Under section 7(9) of the Local Government Act 1972, the term of office of councillors of non-metropolitan district councils is four years.
See S.I. 2001/4066.