Part 2

Electoral arrangements
Chapter 2

Miscellaneous

Electoral areas in England

Change of name of electoral area
59
1
A local authority may, by resolution, change the name of any of the authority's electoral areas.
2
A local authority must comply with subsections (3) to (5) in passing a resolution to change the name of an electoral area.
3
The local authority must not pass the resolution unless it has taken reasonable steps to consult such persons as it considers appropriate on the proposed name.
4
The resolution must be passed—
a
at a meeting which is specially convened for the purpose of deciding the resolution with notice of the object, and
b
by a majority of at least two thirds of the members voting on it.
5
If the name of the electoral area is protected, the resolution may not be passed unless the Local Government Boundary Commission has first agreed to the proposed change.
6
As soon as practicable after a resolution is passed, the local authority must give notice of the change of name to all of the following—
a
the Local Government Boundary Commission;
b
the Boundary Commission for England;
c
the Office of National Statistics;
d
the Director General of the Ordnance Survey;
e
if the local authority is a county council, the district council (if any) within whose area the electoral area lies;
f
if the local authority is a district council, the county council (if any) within whose area the electoral area lies.
7
The change of name does not take effect until the Local Government Boundary Commission have been given notice of the change.
8
For the purposes of this section the name of an electoral area is “protected” if—
a
the name was given to the electoral area by or in pursuance of an order under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19), section 59 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 or section 14 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 (c. 29), and
b
that order was made during the period of five years ending with the day on which a resolution to change the name is to be passed.
9
In subsection (4) the reference to the members of the council includes, in a case where the council are operating a mayor and cabinet executive, the elected mayor of the council.
10
In this section—
- “electoral area”, in relation to a local authority, means any area for which councillors are elected to the authority;
- “local authority” means—
  1. a county council in England;
  2. a district council in England; or
  3. a London borough council.
S. 59 in force at 30.12.2007, see s. 245(2)
S. 59: transfer of functions (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 60(2)(3)(c), 148(3)(b) (with s. 63(4)); S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(i)
Words in s. 59(5) substituted (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 30(2); S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(ff)
Words in s. 59(6)(a) substituted (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 30(2); S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(ff)
Words in s. 59(7) substituted (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 30(2); S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(ff)
Words in s. 59(8)(a) inserted (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 30(3); S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(ff)