Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2016.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after this Order is made.

(3) The remainder of 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(1) in 2017.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2016”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Divisions of the county of Dorset and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing divisions of the county of Dorset are abolished.

(2) The county of Dorset is divided into 40 divisions as listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

(3) Each division comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the division.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each division is the number specified in relation to that division in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.

(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 Blandford Forum and number of councillors

4.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Blandford Forum are abolished.

(2) The parish of Blandford Forum is divided into five parish wards as listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

Wards of the parish of Wareham St Martin and number of councillors

5.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Wareham St Martin are abolished.

(2) The parish of Wareham St Martin is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 2.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

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

Wards of the parish of Wool and number of councillors

6.—(1) The existing wards of the parish of Wool are abolished.

(2) The parish of Wool is divided into two parish wards as listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 2.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of table 3 in Schedule 2.

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

Colin Mellors

Chairman

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

19th January 2016