Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Epping Forest (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, 4, 5, Schedule 1 and Part 1 of Schedule 2 come into force—

(a) for the purposes 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) Article 6 and Part 2 of Schedule 2 come into force—

(a) for the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2026;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

(5) 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 Epping Forest (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 district of Epping Forest and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the district of Epping Forest are abolished.

(2) The district of Epping Forest is divided into the 18 wards listed 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 three.

Elections of the district of Epping Forest

4.—(1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the district are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2024.

(2) 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.

(3) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2024—

(a) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026;

(b) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027;

(c) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028.

(4) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2024—

(a) the first councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and

(b) the second councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.

(5) 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.

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

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

Parish wards of the parishes of Chigwell and Loughton and number of councillors

5.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Chigwell and Loughton are abolished.

(2) The parish of Chigwell is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Part 1 of Schedule 2.

(3) The parish of Loughton is divided into the nine parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Part 1 of Schedule 2.

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

(5) 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 Part 1 of Schedule 2.

Parish wards of the parishes of Epping, Roydon and Waltham Abbey and number of councillors

6.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Epping, Roydon and Waltham Abbey are abolished.

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

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

(4) The parish of Waltham Abbey is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 5 in Part 2 of Schedule 2.

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

(6) 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 Part 2 of Schedule 2.

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 Names of wards of the district of Epping Forest

1.  Buckhurst Hill East & Whitebridge

2.  Buckhurst Hill West

3.  Chigwell with Lambourne

4.  Epping East

5.  Epping West & Rural

6.  Grange Hill

7.  Loughton Fairmead

8.  Loughton Forest

9.  Loughton Roding

10.  Loughton St John’s

11.  North Weald Bassett

12.  Ongar

13.  Roydon & Lower Nazeing

14.  Rural East

15.  Theydon Bois with Passingford

16.  Waltham Abbey North

17.  Waltham Abbey South & Rural

18.  Waltham Abbey West

Articles 5 and 6

SCHEDULE 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors

PART 1

PART 2

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

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

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the District of Epping Forest and replaces them with 18 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2024. It establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes provision for a whole council election in 2024. Subsequently, the council will revert to the existing system of election by thirds. That article also provides for the order of retirement of councillors in 2026, 2027 and 2028 and the election of their replacements.

Articles 5 and 6 makes changes to parish wards within the area of the District that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. Article 5 and Part 1 of Schedule 2 make provision in respect of parishes that elect in 2024, whilst Article 6 and Part 2 of Schedule 2 make provision in respect of parishes that are to elect in 2027.

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 athttps://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/epping-forest.

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