2018 No. 1373
Local Government, England

The Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2018

Made
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)
Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated October 2018 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for Dorset3. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid 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 commencement1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2018.

(2)

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

(3)

Articles 3 and 4 come into force—

(a)

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

(b)

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors4 in 2019.

Interpretation2.

(1)

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2018”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.

(2)

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 district of Dorset and number of councillors3.

(1)

The existing wards of the district of Dorset are abolished.

(2)

The district of Dorset is divided into 52 wards as listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

(3)

Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

(4)

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

Wards of the parishes of Dorchester, Sherborne, Verwood and Wimborne Minster4.

(1)

The existing wards of the parishes of Dorchester, Sherborne, Verwood and Wimborne Minster are abolished.

(2)

The parish of Dorchester is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3)

The parish of Sherborne is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 2.

(4)

The parish of Verwood is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 2.

(5)

The parish of Wimborne Minster is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 2.

(6)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(7)

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 the relevant table in Schedule 2.

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

Jolyon Jackson
Chief Executive
Local Government Boundary Commission for England

SCHEDULE 1Names of wards and number of councillors

Article 3

(1)

(2)

Name of district ward

Number of councillors

Beacon

1

Beaminster

1

Blackmore Vale

1

Blandford

2

Bridport

3

Chalk Valleys

1

Charminster St Mary’s

1

Chesil Bank

1

Chickerell

2

Colehill & Wimborne Minster East

2

Corfe Mullen

2

Cranborne & Alderholt

1

Cranborne Chase

1

Crossways

1

Dorchester East

2

Dorchester Poundbury

1

Dorchester West

2

Eggardon

1

Ferndown North

2

Ferndown South

2

Gillingham

3

Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants

1

Littlemoor & Preston

2

Lyme & Charmouth

1

Lytchett Matravers & Upton

3

Marshwood Vale

1

Melcombe Regis

1

Portland

3

Puddletown & Lower Winterborne

1

Radipole

2

Rodwell & Wyke

3

Shaftesbury Town

2

Sherborne East

1

Sherborne Rural

1

Sherborne West

1

South East Purbeck

1

St Leonards & St Ives

2

Stalbridge & Marnhull

1

Stour & Allen Vale

1

Sturminster Newton

1

Swanage

2

Upwey & Broadwey

1

Verwood

3

Wareham

2

West Moors & Three Legged Cross

2

West Parley

1

West Purbeck

2

Westham

2

Wimborne Minster

2

Winterborne & Broadmayne

1

Winterborne North

1

Yetminster

1

SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Article 4

Table 1Wards of the parish of Dorchester

(1)

>(2)

Name of parish ward

Number of councillors

Dorchester East

5

Dorchester North

4

Dorchester Poundbury

4

Dorchester South

3

Dorchester West

4

Table 2Wards of the parish of Sherborne

(1)

(2)

Name of parish ward

Number of councillors

Sherborne East

6

Sherborne West

6

Table 3Wards of the parish of Verwood

(1)

(2)

Name of parish ward

Number of councillors

Dewlands North

2

Dewlands South

8

Stephen’s Castle

7

Three Cross

1

Table 4Wards of the parish of Wimborne Minster

(1)

(2)

Name of parish ward

Number of councillors

Wimborne East

2

Wimborne Town

12

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Dorset following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Dorset is established as a unitary authority, with effect from 1st April 2019, by virtue of the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648). The changes made by this Order apply in respect of local government elections held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019.

Article 3 provides for the creation of 52 new electoral wards and establishes the names and areas of those wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards which are consequential to the changes made by article 3.

The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL.

The map may also be accessed at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-west/dorset/dorset

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.