Name, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order is called the County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002.

(2) This Order will come into force:

(a)for the purposes of proceedings, preliminary or relating to any election to be held to be held on the 6th May 2004, on the 9th October 2003, and

(b)for all other purposes, on 6 May 2004.

(3) In this Order—

“the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Local Government Act 1972;

“electoral division” (“adran etholiadol”) means an electoral division of the County of Monmouthshire as constituted by the County of Monmouthshire Electoral Arrangements Order 1994(2);

“map” (“map”) means the map marked “map of the County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002” and deposited in accordance with Regulation 5 of the Local Government Area Changes Regulations 1976(3).

Electoral Divisions

2.—(1) The existing electoral divisions of the County of Monmouthshire specified in the Schedule to the County of Monmouthshire Electoral Arrangements Order 1994 are abolished.

(2) For the purposes of the elections of councillors for the County of Monmouthshire, that County shall be divided into 42 electoral divisions bearing the names specified in column (1) of the Schedule to this order, and each such electoral division shall comprise the area specified in column (2) of that Schedule, as designated on the map and demarcated by red lines.

(3) The number of councillors to be returned for each such electoral division shall be the number specified in relation to the division in column (3) of the Schedule to this Order.

Register of Local Government Electors

3.  The registration officer shall make such re-arrangements or adaptation of the register of local government electors as may be necessary due to the coming into force of this Order.

Article 2

SCHEDULENames, areas and numbers of councillors for the electoral divisions of the County of Monmouthshire

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales was required by section 64(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as substituted by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994) to review electoral arrangements as soon as practicable after the first elections to unitary authorities in May 1995.

This Order gives effect to the proposals made in the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales' report of March 2000 for the County of Monmouthshire.

Although the Order abolishes all existing electoral divisions within the County and replaces them with new electoral divisions, in practice the majority of them will remain the same.

There is no change to the divisions of:

• Croesonen, Crucorney, Goetre Fawr, Larkfield, Llanbadoc, Llanelly Hill, Llanfoist Fawr, Llangybi Fawr, Llanover, Llantilio Crossenny, Llanwenarth Ultra, Mardy, Mitchel Troy, Overmonnow, Portskewett, Raglan, Rogiet, St. Arvans, St. Christopher's, St. Kingsmark, St. Mary's, Thornwell, Trellech United, Usk, Wyesham.

The existing community of Abergavenny is to be divided to create five electoral divisions each returning one councillor:

Cantref, Castle, Grofield, Lansdown, Priory.

The existing community of Caldicot is to be divided to create five electoral divisions each returning one councillor:

Caldicot Castle, Dewstow, Green Lane, Severn, West End.

The existing division of Caerwent presently includes the communities of Caerwent and Mathern. Under the new arrangements the electoral division of Caerwent comprises of the Community of Caerwent. The division will return one councillor.

The existing division of Shirenewton presently comprises the communities of Devauden, Llangwm and Shirenewton. Under the new arrangements the electoral division of Shirenewton comprises of the communities of Mathern and Shirenewton and returns one councillor.

New electoral divisions are created for:

• Devauden, returning one councillor. The division to comprise of the communities of Devauden and Llangwm.

• Dixton with Osbaston to return one councillor. The division to comprise of the Dixton with Osbaston ward of the Community of Monmouth.

• Drybridge, returning one councillor. The division to comprise of the Drybridge and Town wards of the Community of Monmouth.

• Mill, returning one councillor. The division to comprise of The Mill, Denny and Salisbury wards of the Community of Magor with Undy.

• The Elms, returning one councillor. The division to comprise of The Elms ward of the Community of Magor with Undy.

The areas of the new divisions are demarcated on the detailed map described in Article 2, prints of which may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of Monmouthshire County Council and at the offices of the National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ (Local Government Modernisation Division).