The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

Statutory Instruments

2023 No. 652

Local Government, England

The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

Made

14th June 2023

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1) (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) (“the Commission”) published a report dated November 2022(3) stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Maidstone. 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, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023.

(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 15th October 2023;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England(4) in 2024.

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

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order, “ the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(5).

(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 borough of Maidstone and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the borough of Maidstone are abolished.

(2) The borough of Maidstone is divided into the 22 wards 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.

Parish Wards of the parishes of Boughton Monchelsea, Boxley, Otham and Thurnham and number of councillors.

4.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Boughton Monchelsea, Boxley, Otham and Turnham are abolished.

(2) The parish of Boughton Monchelsea is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3) The parish of Boxley is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 2.

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

(5) The parish of Thurnham 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

14th June 2023

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of Borough Wards of the borough of Maidstone and number of councillors

(1) Name of Ward	(2) Number of councillors
Allington & Bridge	2
Barming Heath & Teston	2
Bearsted & Downswood	3
Boughton Monchelsea & Chart Sutton	1
Boxley Downs	2
Coxheath & Farleigh	2
Fant & Oakwood	3
Grove Green & Vinters Park	3
Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs	3
Headcorn & Sutton Valence	2
High Street	3
Leeds & Langley	2
Loose & Linton	2
Marden & Yalding	3
Palace Wood	2
Park Wood & Mangravet	2
Penenden Heath	3
Ringlestone	1
Senacre	1
Shepway	3
Staplehurst	2
Tovil	2

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Parish Wards of the parish of Boughton Monchelsea

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Joy Wood	2
Langley Park	4
North	2
South	7

Table 2

Parish Wards of the parish of Boxley

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Boxley Grove Green	5
Boxley North	6
Boxley South	2
Boxley South East	1
Boxley Woodlands	1

Table 3

Parish Wards of the parish of Otham

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Otham North	4
Otham South	5

Table 4

Parish Wards of the parish of Thurnham

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Thurnham East	3
Thurnham West	6

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Maidstone following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough remains unchanged.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Maidstone and replaces them with 22 new ones for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2024. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards which are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2024.

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, 1^st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL.

The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/maidstone.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

(1)

2009 c. 20.

(2)

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.

(3)

The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/maidstone.

(4)

The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), renumbered by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4).

(5)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/maidstone.