Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

Election dates

60 Power to change date of local elections to date of European Parliamentary general election

(1) In section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) (ordinary days of local elections in England and Wales), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Subsection (1) is subject to any order under—

(a) section 37A (local government areas in England), or

(b) section 37B (local government areas in Wales).”

(2) After that section insert—

“37A Power to change date of local elections to date of European Parliamentary general election: England

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide that in a year in which a European Parliamentary general election is to be held—

(a) the ordinary day of election of councillors for counties in England, districts and London boroughs,

(b) the ordinary day of election of councillors for parishes, and

(c) as respects Authority elections, the day on which the poll is to be held at an ordinary election,

shall be changed so as to be the same as the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may make provision under all of paragraphs (a) to (c) or under one or more of those paragraphs.

(3) An order under subsection (1) must relate to a single year and must be made at least six months before—

(a) the local election day in that year, or

(b) if earlier, the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election in that year.

(4) For this purpose “the local election day” in a particular year is—

(a) the first Thursday in May, or

(b) if an order has been made under section 37(1)(b) (power to change date of council and Assembly elections) in relation to that year, the day specified in the order.

(5) Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Electoral Commission, and

(b) such other persons as he considers appropriate.

(6) An order under subsection (1) may make incidental, supplementary or consequential provision or savings.

(7) Where the Welsh Ministers make an order under section 37B, the Secretary of State may by order make such consequential provision in relation to elections in England as he thinks fit.

(8) The powers under subsections (6) and (7) include power to make—

(a) different provision for different purposes;

(b) provision disapplying or modifying the application of an enactment or an instrument made under an enactment.

(9) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument.

(10) A statutory instrument containing an order made under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

37B Power to change date of local elections to date of European Parliamentary general election: Wales

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by order provide that, in a year in which a European Parliamentary general election is to be held, the ordinary day of election of councillors for—

(a) counties in Wales and county boroughs, and

(b) communities,

shall be changed so as to be the same as the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may make provision under paragraphs (a) and (b) or under one of those paragraphs.

(3) An order under subsection (1) must relate to a single year and must be made at least six months before—

(a) the local election day in that year, or

(b) if earlier, the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election in that year.

(4) For this purpose “the local election day” in a particular year is—

(a) the first Thursday in May, or

(b) if an order has been made under section 37(1)(b) (power to change date of council and Assembly elections) in relation to that year, the day specified in the order.

(5) Before making an order under this section, the Welsh Ministers must consult—

(a) the Electoral Commission, and

(b) such other persons as they consider appropriate.

(6) An order under subsection (1) may make incidental, supplementary or consequential provision or savings.

(7) Where the Secretary of State makes an order under section 37A, the Welsh Ministers may by order make such consequential provision in relation to elections in Wales as they think fit.

(8) The powers under subsections (6) and (7) include power to make—

(a) different provision for different purposes;

(b) provision disapplying or modifying the application of an enactment or an instrument made under an enactment.

(9) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument.

(10) A statutory instrument containing an order made under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.”

(3) In section 3 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29) (time of ordinary elections), in subsection (3), after “section 37(2)” insert “or 37A”.