Explanatory note

This Order gives effect, subject to modifications, to recommendations by the Local Government Commission for England for electoral changes in the district of Cherwell. The changes have effect in relation to local government elections to be held on and after 2nd May 2002.

The modifications relate to names of district wards. The Secretary of State has decided that the wards shown in the first column of the Table below with the names proposed by the Commission should bear the names shown in the second column.

Article 2 abolishes the existing wards of the district and provides for the creation of twenty-eight new wards. That article and Schedule 1 also make provision for the names and areas of, and numbers of councillors for, the new wards.

Article 3 makes provision for a whole council election in 2002 and for reversion of elections by thirds in subsequent years. Schedule 2 regulates the order of retirement of councillors.

Articles 4 to 6 makes electoral changes in the parishes of Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington.

Article 7 makes changes to the parish elections for the district.

Article 8 revokes the District of Cherwell (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978, The Bicester (Division of Parish into Wards) Order 1975, “The Kidlington (Amendment of Parish Ward Boundaries) Order 1975, the Town of Bicester (Wards) Order 2000 and the Parish of Kidlington (Wards) Order 2000.

The areas of the new district and parish wards are demarcated on the map described in article 1(5). Prints of the map may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of Cherwell District Council and at the offices of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, 2nd Floor, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE.