PART 7ELECTORAL MATTERS: DORSET

Election to the Dorset Council in 2019 and subsequent years39.

(1)

A whole council election of councillors of Dorset Council is to be held—

(a)

on the 2019 election day;

(b)

on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2024;

(c)

on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2029; and

(d)

every fourth year thereafter.

(2)

For the purposes of the elections of councillors of Dorset Council—

(a)

Dorset is to be divided into wards;

(b)

the names of the new wards are those indicated in column 1 of the Table set out in Schedule 2 to this Order;

(c)

the area of each new ward is to be the same as that of the County Council electoral division, parish or parish council ward, as those electoral divisions, parishes or parish council wards existed on 31st March 2019, and as indicated in column 2 of that Table;

(d)

each new ward is to return the number of councillors indicated in column 3 of that Table.

(3)

At the 2019 election the returning officer and electoral registration officer is the proper officer appointed by the shadow authority in accordance with article 28(8) above (“the Dorset Council returning officer”).

(4)

The Dorset Council returning officer must take such steps as are necessary or appropriate to prepare for the 2019 election, including the making of all necessary alterations in the electoral register.

(5)

The total of the expenditure properly incurred by the Dorset Council returning officer in relation to the holding of the 2019 election is to be divided among, and paid by, the County Council and the District Councils in such proportion as may be agreed between them; but, where the returning officer notifies the Secretary of State that there is not such agreement, the Secretary of State may—

(a)

determine the proportion; or

(b)

appoint an arbitrator for that purpose.

(6)

In relation to the 2019 election, “the appropriate officer” in Parts 1 and 2 of the Representation of the People Act 198325 does not have the meaning given by section 67(7) of that Act but means the Dorset Council returning officer.

(7)

All councillors elected in 2019 or any later year are to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of elections of councillors in the year of retirement and the newly-elected councillors are to come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.