Statutory Instruments
2014 No. 3335
Local Government, England
The Braintree (Electoral Changes) Order 2014
Made 16th December 2014
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (“the Commission”) published a report dated July 2014 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Braintree. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.
2009 c.20.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired 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 and commencement
1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Braintree (Electoral Changes) Order 2014.
(2) This Order comes into force—
(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after it is made;
(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.

Interpretation
2. In this Order—
“map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Braintree (Electoral Changes) Order 2014”, prints of which are available for inspection at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;
“ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
1983 c.2; section 37 has been amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c.50), paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c.29) and section 60(1) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c.28).

Wards of the district of Braintree and number of councillors
3. (1) The existing wards of the district of Braintree are abolished.
(2) The district of Braintree is divided into 26 district wards, each listed by name in the first column of the table in the Schedule.
(3) Each district ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the district ward.
(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each district ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in the Schedule.
(5) 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.

Wards of the parish of Halstead and number of councillors
4. (1) The existing wards of the parish of Halstead are abolished.
(2) The parish of Halstead is divided into four parish wards named respectively—
(a) Holy Trinity North;
(b) Holy Trinity South;
(c) St Andrew’s North;
(d) St Andrew’s South.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) Three councillors are to be elected for each parish ward.

Wards of the parish of Witham and number of councillors
5. (1) The existing wards of the parish of Witham are abolished.
(2) The parish of Witham is divided into five parish wards named respectively—
(a) Central;
(b) Hatfield;
(c) North;
(d) South;
(e) West.
(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(4) Two councillors are to be elected for each of Central and Hatfield parish wards.
(5) Four councillors are to be elected for each of North, South and West parish wards.
Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Max Caller
Chairman
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Date 16th December 2014

SCHEDULE Names of district wards and number of councillors
Article 3
(1) Name of district ward	(2) Number of councillors
Bocking Blackwater	3
Bocking North	2
Bocking South	2
Braintree Central & Beckers Green	3
Braintree South	2
Braintree West	2
Bumpstead	1
Coggeshall	2
Gosfield & Greenstead Green	1
Great Notley & Black Notley	3
Halstead St Andrew’s	2
Halstead Trinity	2
Hatfield Peverel & Terling	2
Hedingham	2
Kelvedon & Feering	2
Rayne	1
Silver End & Cressing	2
Stour Valley North	1
Stour Valley South	1
The Colnes	2
Three Fields	2
Witham Central	2
Witham North	2
Witham South	2
Witham West	2
Yeldham	1

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Braintree following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the district remains unchanged. The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015.
Article 3 abolishes the existing wards of the district of Braintree and replaces them with 26 new ones. That article, the map (as defined in article 2) and the Schedule also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new district wards.
Articles 4 and 5 abolish the existing wards of the parishes of (i) Halstead and (ii) Witham and replace them with new ones. Those articles and the map also establish the names, areas and number of councillors of the new parish wards.
The map defined in article 2 shows the new district and parish wards. It is available at [insert link]. The map is also available for inspection at all reasonable times at the offices of Braintree District Council, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree, Essex CM7 9HB and at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at Layden House, 76 – 86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.