OpenLegislation

Section 45 Provisions with respect to referendums.I1C1C2F1

England and Wales

(1)

A local F2authority may not hold more than one referendum in any period of five years.

(2)

If the result of a referendum held by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part is to approve the proposals to which the referendum relates, the local authority concerned must implement those proposals in accordance with any provision made by the regulations or order.

(3)

If the result of a referendum held by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part is to reject the proposals to which the referendum relates, the local authority concerned may not implement those proposals but must instead comply with any provision made by the regulations or order.

(4)

The persons entitled to vote in a referendum held by a local authority are those who on the day of the referendum—

(a)

would be entitled to vote as electors at an election of councillors for an electoral area which is situated within the authority’s area, and

(b)

are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the authority’s area.

(5)

The F3Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision as to the conduct of referendums.

(6)

The F4Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision for the combination of polls at referendums with polls at any elections.

(7)

Regulations under subsection (5) or (6) may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of any enactment (whenever passed or made) relating to elections or referendums.

(8)

The provision which may be made under subsection (5) includes, in particular, provision—

(a)

as to the question to be asked in a referendum,

(b)

as to the publicity to be given in connection with a referendum (including the publicity to be given with respect to the consequences of the referendum),

(c)

about the limitation of expenditure in connection with a referendum (and the creation of criminal offences in connection with the limitation of such expenditure),

(d)

as to the conduct of the authority, members of the authority and officers of the authority in relation to a referendum,

(e)

as to when, where and how voting in a referendum is to take place,

(f)

as to how the votes cast in a referendum are to be counted, and

(g)

for disregarding alterations in a register of electors.

F5(8A)

Before making any regulations under this section, the F6Welsh Ministers shall consult the Electoral Commission, but this subsection does not apply to—

(a)

provisions which specify the wording of the question to be asked in a referendum, or

(b)

provisions for matters mentioned in subsection (8)(c).

(8B)

No regulations which specify the wording of the question to be asked in a referendum may be made under subsection (5) unless—

(a)

before laying a draft of the regulations before F7the National Assembly for Wales, the F8Welsh Ministers consulted the Electoral Commission as to the intelligibility of that question, and

(b)

when so laying the draft, the F9Welsh Ministers also laid before F10the National Assembly for Wales a report stating any views as to the intelligibility of that question which were expressed by the Electoral Commission in response to that consultation.

(8C)

Where any such regulations specify not only the question to be asked in a referendum but also any statement which is to precede that question on the ballot paper at the referendum, any reference in subsection (8B) to the intelligibility of that question is to be read as a reference to the intelligibility of that question and that statement taken together.

(8D)

No regulations which make provision for the matters mentioned in subsection (8)(c) may be made under subsection (5) unless—

(a)

before laying a draft of the regulations before F11the National Assembly for Wales, the F12Welsh Ministers sought, and had regard to, the views of the Electoral Commission as to the provision to be made by the regulations as to those matters, and

(b)

where the draft regulations laid before F13the National Assembly for Wales made provision as to those matters otherwise than in accordance with the views of the Electoral Commission, the F14Welsh Ministers, when so laying the draft, also laid before F15the Assembly a statement of F16their reasons for departing from the views of the Commission.

(9)

In subsections (1), (4) to (6) and (8) F17to (8C)“referendum” means a referendum held under section 27 F18... or by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part F19or under section 40 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

S. 45(1) substituted (30.12.2007) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 69(2), 245(2) (with s. 69(4))

F2

Word in s. 45(1) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F3

Words in s. 45(5) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F4

Words in s. 45(6) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F5

S. 45(8A)-(8D) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1), Sch. 21 para. 18(3) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 2)

F6

Words in s. 45(8A) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F7

Words in s. 45(8B)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(a)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F8

Words in s. 45(8B)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(a)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F9

Words in s. 45(8B)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(b)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F10

Words in s. 45(8B)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(b)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F11

Words in s. 45(8D)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(a)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F12

Words in s. 45(8D)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(a)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F13

Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F14

Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F15

Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(iii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F16

Word in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(iv); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F17

Words in s. 45(9) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1), Sch. 21 para. 18(4) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 2)

F18

Words in s. 45(9) repealed (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(6), Sch. 25 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c)(ee)(i) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F19

Words in s. 45(9) inserted (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), ss. 54(4), 178(2)

Modifications

C1

S. 45 functions made exercisable concurrently (18.8.2010) by The Lord President of the Council Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1837), arts. 1(2), 3

C2

S. 45 applied (with modifications) (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), s. 178(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3)

Commencement

I1

S. 45 wholly in force at 28.7.2001; s. 45 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 108; s. 45 in force at 7.8.2000 in so far as it confers power to make an order or regulations, give directions, or issue guidance in relation to England only by S.I. 2000/2187, arts. 1(3), 2(b); s. 45(5)-(9) in force at 1.11.2000 in relation to Wales by S.I. 2000/2948, art. 2; s. 45 in force at 19.2.2001 in relation to England only except in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2001/415, arts. 1(3), 2(a); s. 45 in force at 28.7.2001 in so far as not already in force see s. 108(4)-(6)

Notes on Part II

Textual amendments

F1

Words in Pt. II heading substituted (4.5.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 9; S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b)

Modifications

C1

Pt. II (ss. 10-48) restricted (W.) (1.4.2002) by S.I. 2002/808, art. 23(a)

C2

Pt. II extended (1.9.2003 for E., 1.9.2003 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 183(4)(b), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/1667, art. 4; S.I. 2003/1718, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II

C3

Pt. II modified (21.6.2004) by Isles of Scilly (Functions) (Review and Scrutiny of Health Services) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1412), arts. 1, 2

C4

Pt. II applied in part (with modifications) (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), arts. 1, 7(4)

C5

Pt. II applied in part (with modifications) (28.3.2008) by The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/907), arts. 1, 16(7)

C6

Pt. II modified (29.8.2008) by The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2113), regs. 1, 10