13.—(1) A whole council election of councillors of the County Durham council shall be held on the 2008 election day, on the ordinary day of election of councillors(1) in 2013, and every fourth year thereafter.

(2) The term of office of councillors elected to the County Durham council in 2005 or at any subsequent by-election held before the 2008 election day shall end on the fourth day after the 2008 election day.

(3) Notwithstanding section 7(1) of the 1972 Act, the term of office of councillors elected to the County Durham council on the 2008 election day shall be five years, and they shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2013.

(4) The person who is for the time being the returning officer for County Durham(2) shall take such steps as are necessary or appropriate to prepare for the 2008 election and shall, in particular, ensure that all necessary alterations are made in the electoral register.

(5) For the purposes of the 2008 election, an electoral division for which, under the County Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2005(3) (“the 2005 Order”), one councillor is returned, shall return two councillors.

(6) In paragraph (5) “electoral division” means an electoral division of County Durham established by article 3 of the 2005 Order