9

1

Elections of all councillors for wards of the borough shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 1997.

2

The councillors holding office for any ward in the borough immediately before 5th May 1997 shall retire on that date and the newly elected councillors for any such ward shall come into office on that date.

3

Of the councillors elected in 1997 for any ward of the borough, other than North Turton and Whitehall—

a

one-third shall retire in 1999 being, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) below, the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes;

b

one-third shall retire in 2000 being, subject as aforesaid, the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes; and

b

the remaining councillor shall retire in 2001.

4

Of the councillors elected in 1997 for the Whitehall ward of the borough—

a

one councillor shall retire in 1999 being, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) below, the councillor elected by the smaller number of votes; and

b

the remaining councillor shall retire in 2001.

5

In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any such year, the person to retire in that year shall be determined by lot.

6

If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each such year shall be determined by lot.

7

Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot shall be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing shall be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

8

The councillor elected in 1997 for the North Turton ward of the borough shall retire in 2000.

9

In each year in which a councillor for a ward in the borough retires in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (8) above an election of a councillor for that ward shall be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in that year; and the term of office of councillors elected at such an election shall be three years.

10

Except as otherwise provided in the foregoing paragraphs of this article, the term of office of councillors shall be four years and all councillors shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year of retirement and the newly elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.9.