Draft Order laid before Parliament under section 59(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; draft to lie for forty days, pursuant to section 6(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, during which period either House of Parliament may resolve that the Order be not made.

2022 No.

Local Government, England

The Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022

Made

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) to (4)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated September 20213 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the county of Suffolk. 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 application1

1

This Order may be cited as the Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022.

2

This article and article 2 come into force on 15th October 2024.

3

Article 3 comes into force—

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2024;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England4 in 2025.

4

Article 4 comes 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

This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation2

1

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.

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 the feature.

Divisions of Suffolk and number of councillors3

1

The existing divisions of Suffolk are abolished.

2

Suffolk is divided into the 69 divisions listed in Schedule 1.

3

Each division comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the division.

4

One councillor is to be elected for each division listed in Schedule 1 other than the division of Beccles & Kessingland for which two councillors are to be elected.

Parish wards of parishes in Suffolk and number of councillors4

1

The existing parish wards of the following parishes are abolished—

a

Felixstowe;

b

Haverhill;

c

Kesgrave;

d

Lowestoft;

e

Melton;

f

Oulton Broad;

g

Stowmarket.

2

The parish of Felixstowe is divided into five parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

3

The parish of Haverhill is divided into eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

4

The parish of Kesgrave is divided into three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

5

The parish of Lowestoft is divided into 11 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

6

The parish of Melton is divided into two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 5 in Schedule 2.

7

The parish of Oulton Broad is divided into four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 6 in Schedule 2.

8

The parish of Stowmarket is divided into seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 7 in Schedule 2.

9

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

10

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

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

NameChief ExecutiveLocal Government Boundary Commission for England

SCHEDULE 1Names of divisions

Article 3(2)

1

Abbeygate & Minden

2

Aldeburgh & Leiston

3

Barrow & Thingoe

4

Beccles & Kessingland

5

Belstead Hills

6

Bixley

7

Blackbourn

8

Blyth Estuary

9

Bosmere

10

Brandon

11

Bridge

12

Brook

13

Bungay

14

Carlford

15

Carlton & Whitton

16

Carlton Colville

17

Clare

18

Constable

19

Cornard & Sudbury East

20

Cosford

21

Eastgate & Moreton Hall

22

Exning & Newmarket

23

Felixstowe Clifflands

24

Felixstowe Maritime

25

Framlingham & Wickham Market

26

Gainsborough

27

Gipping

28

Gipping Valley

29

Gunton

30

Hadleigh

31

Halesworth

32

Harbour

33

Hardwick

34

Hartismere

35

Haverhill East & Rural

36

Haverhill North West & Withersfield

37

Haverhill South

38

Hoxne & Eye

39

Kesgrave

40

Kirkley & Pakefield

41

Martlesham

42

Melford

43

Mildenhall

44

Newmarket & Red Lodge

45

Oulton

46

Oulton Broad & Normanston

47

Peninsula

48

Priory Heath

49

Row Heath

50

Rushmere

51

Rushmere St Andrew

52

Saxmundham & District

53

St Clement’s

54

St Margaret’s

55

St Olaves & Tollgate

56

Stour Valley

57

Stowmarket East

58

Stowmarket West

59

Sudbury West

60

Thedwastre North

61

Thedwastre South

62

Thredling

63

Upper Gipping

64

Walton & Trimleys

65

Westbourne

66

Westgate

67

Whitton

68

Wilford

69

Woodbridge

SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Article 4

Table 1Parish wards of the parish of Felixstowe

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Central

3

East

3

Port

5

South

2

Walton

3

Table 2Parish wards of the parish of Haverhill

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Central

1

East

3

Mount Road

1

North

3

North West

2

South

3

South East

2

West

1

Table 3Parish wards of the parish of Kesgrave

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

East

7

Central

6

West

3

Table 4Parish wards of the parish of Lowestoft

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Elmtree

2

Gunton

1

Harbour

5

Kirkley

3

Normanston

1

Pakefield

2

Pakefield Park

1

St Margaret’s East

2

St Margaret’s West

1

Tom Crisp

1

Uplands

1

Table 5Parish wards of the parish of Melton

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

North

8

South

7

Table 6Parish wards of the parish of Oulton Broad

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Oulton Broad North

6

Oulton Broad North East

1

Oulton Broad South East

3

Oulton Broad South West

2

Table 7Parish wards of the parish of Stowmarket

(1)

Name of parish ward

(2)

Number of councillors

Chilton North

3

Chilton South

2

Combs Ford

5

St Peter’s North

1

St Peter’s South

1

Stow Thorney North

1

Stow Thorney South

3

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Suffolk following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the county remains unchanged.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of Suffolk and replaces them with 69 new ones for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025. It establishes the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027 that are consequential on the changes made by article 3.

The area covered by each division and parish ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL.

The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-county-council.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.