Citation and commencement

1.–(1) This Order may be cited as the Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2008.

(2) This Order, with the exception of article 3, comes into force–

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of county councillors for the county electoral divisions of Maidstone Rural South, Maidstone Rural West and Maidstone South, to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2009, on 15th October 2008;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2009.

(3) Article 3 comes into force–

(a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of borough councillors for the borough wards of Coxheath and Hunton, Loose and South, to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2011, on 15th October 2010;

(b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2011.

Interpretation

2. In this Order–

"borough" means the borough of Maidstone;

"county" means the county of Kent;

"ordinary day of election of councillors" has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983(8); and

"registration officer" means an officer appointed for the purpose of, and in accordance with, section 8(9) of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Alteration of the areas of Coxheath and Hunton, Loose and South borough wards

3.–(1) The area that ceased to be part of the parish of Tovil and became part of the parish of Loose in consequence of the Maidstone (Parishes) Order 2007(10) shall cease to be part of South borough ward(11) and shall become part of Loose borough ward(12).

(2) The area that ceased to be part of the parish of Coxheath and became part of the parish of Loose in consequence of the Maidstone (Parishes) Order 2007 shall cease to be part of Coxheath and Hunton borough ward(13) and shall become part of Loose borough ward.

Alteration of the areas of Maidstone Rural South, Maidstone Rural West and Maidstone South county electoral divisions

4.–(1) The area that ceased to be part of the parish of Tovil and became part of the parish of Loose in consequence of the Maidstone (Parishes) Order 2007(14) shall cease to be part of Maidstone South county electoral division(15) and shall become part of Maidstone Rural South county electoral division(16).

(2) The area that ceased to be part of the parish of Coxheath and became part of the parish of Loose in consequence of the Maidstone (Parishes) Order 2007 shall cease to be part of Maidstone Rural West county electoral division(17) and shall become part of Maidstone Rural South county electoral division.

Electoral register

5. The registration officer for the borough shall make such rearrangement of, or adaptation of, the register of local government electors as may be necessary for the purposes of, and in consequence of, this Order.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to proposals made to the Electoral Commission for related alterations of the boundaries of Coxheath and Hunton, Loose and South wards of the borough of Maidstone and Maidstone Rural South, Maidstone Rural West and Maidstone South electoral divisions of the county of Kent as a result of changes to the boundaries of the parishes of Coxheath, Loose and Tovil made by the Maidstone (Parishes) Order 2007.

The new electoral arrangements apply in respect of county elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2009, and borough elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2011.

Article 3 makes alterations to the areas of Coxheath and Hunton, Loose and South borough wards.

Article 4 makes alterations to the areas of Maidstone Rural South, Maidstone Rural West and Maidstone South county electoral divisions.

Article 5 obliges the Electoral Registration Officer to make any necessary amendments to the electoral register to reflect the new electoral arrangements.