The Wokingham (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

This Order may be cited as the Wokingham (Electoral Changes) Order 2023.

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

This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Wokingham (Electoral Changes) Order 2023”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.

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.

The existing wards of the borough of Wokingham are abolished.

Wokingham is divided into the 18 wards listed in Schedule 1.

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

The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is three.

Elections of all councillors for each ward of the borough of Wokingham are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2024.

The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2024 are to retire on that fourth day, and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.

In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any year, the person to retire in that year is to be determined by lot.

If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year is to be determined by lot.

An election to replace a councillor who is to retire under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in the year in which the retirement is due to take place, and any newly elected councillor is to come into office on the fourth day after that day.

Where, under this article, any question is to be determined by lot, the lot is to be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing is to be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

The existing parish wards of the parish of Finchampstead are abolished.

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

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

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

The existing parish wards of the parish of Swallowfield are abolished.

The parish of Swallowfield is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 3.

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

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

The existing parish wards of the parishes of Earley, Shinfield, Wokingham and Woodley are abolished.

The parish of Earley is divided into the seven parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 4.

The parish of Shinfield is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 4.

The parish of Wokingham is divided into the nine parish wards listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 4.

The parish of Woodley is divided into the ten parish wards listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 4

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

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