2003 No. 1980
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND
The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003
Made 31st July 2003
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Whereas the Boundary Committee for England, acting pursuant to section 15(4) of the Local Government Act 1992, has submitted to the Electoral Commission recommendations dated March 2003 on its review of the borough of Wirral:
The Boundary Committee for England is a committee of the Electoral Commission, established by the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 14 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41). The Local Government Commission for England (Transfer of Functions) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3962) transferred to the Electoral Commission the functions of the Local Government Commission for England.
1992 c. 19. This section has been amended by S.I.2001/3962.
The Electoral Commission was established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41). The functions of the Secretary of State, under sections 13 to 15 and 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19), to the extent that they relate to electoral changes within the meaning of that Act, were transferred with modifications to the Electoral Commission on 1st April 2002 (S.I.2001/3962).
The metropolitan district of Wirral has the status of a borough.
And whereas the Electoral Commission have decided to give effect, with two modifications, to those recommendations:
And whereas a period of not less than six weeks has expired since the receipt of those recommendations:
Now, therefore, the Electoral Commission, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 17 and 26 of the Local Government Act 1992, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:
This section has been amended by S.I.2001/3962 and also otherwise in ways not relevant to this Order.
This section has been amended by S.I.2001/3962.

1 Citation and commencement
1 This Order may be cited as the Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003.
2 This Order shall come into force –
(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to any election to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004, on 15th October 2003;
(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004.

2 Interpretation
In this Order –
“borough” means the borough of Wirral;
“existing”, in relation to a ward, means the ward as it exists on the date this Order is made; and
any reference to the map is a reference to the map marked “Map referred to in the Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003”, of which prints are available for inspection at –
(a) the principal office of the Electoral Commission; and
(b) the offices of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

3 Wards of the borough of Wirral
1 The existing wards of the borough shall be abolished.
See the Borough of Wirral (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 (S.I.1979/1523).
2 The borough shall be divided into twenty-two wards which shall bear the names set out in the Schedule.
3 Each ward shall comprise the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward and demarcated by red lines; and the number of councillors to be elected for each ward shall be three.
4 Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it shall be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

4 Elections of the council of the borough of Wirral
1 Elections of all councillors for all wards of the borough shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004.
Article 4 provides for a single election of all the councillors and for reversion to the system of election by thirds, as established by section 7 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70).
For the ordinary day of election of councillors of local government areas, see section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) and section 17 of, and paragraphs 1 and 5 of Schedule 3 to, the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29).
2 The councillors holding office for any ward of the borough immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004 shall retire on that date and the newly elected councillors for those wards shall come into office on that date.
3 Of the councillors elected in 2004 one shall retire in 2006, one in 2007 and one in 2008.
4 Of the councillors elected in 2004 –
(a) the first to retire shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and
(b) the second to retire shall, subject to those paragraphs, 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 shall be determined by lot.
6 If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year shall be determined by lot.
7 Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot shall be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing shall be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

5 Maps
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council shall make a print of the map marked “Map referred to in the Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003” available for inspection at its offices by any member of the public at any reasonable time.

6 Electoral registers
The Electoral Registration Officer for the borough shall make such rearrangement of, or adaptation of, the register of local government electors as may be necessary for the purposes of, and in consequence of, this Order.
As to electoral registration officers and the register of local government electors, see sections 8 to 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).

7 Revocation
The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 is revoked, save for article 8.
S.I.1979/1523.
Sealed with the seal of the Electoral Commission on the 31st day of July 2003
Sam Younger Chairman of the Commission 31st July 2003
Jacqui Dixon Secretary to the Commission 31st July 2003

SCHEDULE NAMES OF WARDS
article 3
Bebington	Liscard
Bidston and St James	Moreton West and Saughall Massie
Birkenhead and Tranmere	New Brighton
Bromborough	Oxton
Clatterbridge	Pensby and Thingwall
Claughton	Prenton
Eastham	Rock Ferry
Greasby, Frankby and Irby	Seacombe
Heswall	Upton
Hoylake and Meols	Wallasey
Leasowe and Moreton East	West Kirby and Thurstaston

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order gives effect, with two modifications, to recommendations by the Boundary Committee for England, a committee of the Electoral Commission, for electoral changes in the borough of Wirral.
The modifications concern the boundary between Bebington and Prenton borough wards and the name of Birkenhead and Tranmere borough ward.
The changes have effect in relation to local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004.
Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the borough and provides for the creation of 22 new wards. That article and the Schedule also make provision for the names and areas of, and numbers of councillors for, the new wards.
Article 4 makes provision for a whole council election in 2004 and for reversion to the established system of election by thirds in subsequent years.
Article 6 obliges the Electoral Registration Officer to make any necessary amendments to the electoral register to reflect the new electoral arrangements.
Article 7 revokes the Borough of Wirral (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979, with the exception of article 8.
The areas of the new borough wards are demarcated on the map described in article 2. Prints of the map may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and at the principal office of the Electoral Commission at Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW.