PART 3ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 2AREA REVIEWS

Principal areas

23Review of principal area boundaries

1

The Commission may, of its own initiative or at the request of a local authority, conduct a review of one or more principal areas.

2

But the Commission must not conduct a review under subsection (1) at the request of a local authority if it considers that doing so would impede the proper exercise of its functions.

3

The changes that the Commission may recommend in relation to a review under this section are—

a

such principal area boundary changes as it considers appropriate, and

b

in consequence of any principal area boundary changes such community boundary changes, preserved county changes, community council changes or electoral arrangements changes as it considers appropriate.

4

For the purposes of this Part—

a

a reference to a “community boundary change” is a reference to—

i

altering the boundary of a community;

ii

abolishing a community;

iii

constituting a new community;

b

a reference to “community council change” is a reference to—

i

constituting a council for a community or a common council for a group of communities;

ii

dissolving a community council (separate or common);

iii

separating a community from a group of communities having a common community council;

iv

adding a community to a group of communities having a common community council;

c

a reference to an “electoral arrangements change” is a reference to a change to the electoral arrangements for any local government area;

d

a reference to a “preserved county change” is a reference to a change to the area of a preserved county;

e

a reference to a “principal area boundary change” is a reference to—

i

altering the boundary of a principal area;

ii

abolishing a principal area;

iii

constituting a new principal area.