Explanatory note

Article 8(4) of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1995 contains a transitional provision whereby the partial commencement by that Order of section 17 of the 1994 Act is not to apply to rule 4 of Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 (S.I. 1986/2214) at the first elections to the new authorities established by the 1994 Act.

Section 17 of the 1994 Act provides for county and district references to be carried forward as references to the new counties and county boroughs in Wales.

In place of the application of section 17 to rule 4(1), article 8(4) of the No. 3 Commencement Order provides, in relation to the first elections, for nomination papers to be delivered at the offices of the existing council which nominated the returning officer. Representations have now shown that this limitation may cause inconvenience in the case of the larger county and county borough areas. For this reason the present amendment is made whereby the restriction to district council offices is removed.