The Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2014) Order 2013. SI 2013/2277.
Published : 19 September 2013
This Order changes the date of local elections in England in 2014, so that it is the same as the date of the European Parliamentary elections in that year, and deals with a number of incidental, supplementary and consequential matters. The ordinary day for local elections in England is usually the first Thursday in May in each year by virtue of section 37(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (“the Act”). However, that provision is subject to any order, such as this one, made under section 37A of the Act. Article 2 provides that the ordinary day of elections shall be changed to be the same as the date of the poll for the European Parliamentary elections. By virtue of section 15 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c.50), where the polls at an ordinary local government election and a European Parliamentary election are held on the same day they shall be taken together. Article 3 provides that the retirement date of any councillors due to retire in 2014 shall be determined in accordance with the ordinary day as moved under article 2, while that of any councillors coming into office in 2014 shall be unaffected by the change of ordinary day. The term of office of a councillor due to retire in 2014 will consequently be longer, and that of a councillor coming into office in 2014 will be shorter, than would otherwise be the case. Article 4 extends, in relation to local elections in England, the period during which it is not necessary to hold a by-election prior to the ordinary day of elections, so that in relation to elections in 2014, this period will last for the six months immediately before the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election held in 2014. Article 5 extends the date by which joint authorities in England must hold their annual meetings until 31 August, so that they can be held after any elections which may affect their composition. It also extends the date by which annual parish meetings in parishes which are having ordinary elections to the parish council in 2014 must take place to 31 July, so that they can be held after any such elections. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen and the impact on the public sector is minimal. |
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Putting communities in control
Published : 19 September 2013
Don Foster, the Communities Minister, Don Foster has announced that he is taking action to increase the number of tenant organisations across ... read more |
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Can I keep a crocodile …?
Published : 19 September 2013
Asking if they can keep a crocodile in their back garden, seeking tips on how to marinade a juicy steak and trying to get their TV reception fixed are just some of the more unusual queries council call centres are having to deal with. Council customer service centres handle more than 50 million calls each year, most of which are from people wanting information about council tax, environmental services or parking. Others leave council call centre advisors scratching their heads and sometimes struggling to keep a straight face. They include one caller who left customer service staff at Reigate and Banstead Council stumped by asking how long they need to leave an egg under a lamp for it to hatch; meanwhile Watford Council was asked to collect an exhausted homing pigeon that had landed in a back garden in order to get it back to its owner. In Warwickshire, calls have included someone asking if they need to take their photos of crop circles off the internet to protect national security, while staff at Newark and Sherwood District Council were left perplexed when asked by a resident if they knew how to grow mangoes. Top 10 council calls: - Are there any regulations on keeping a crocodile in my back garden? (Reigate and Banstead Borough Council)
- Can you teach me how to use a chain-saw? (Chelmsford Borough Council)
- Do you know where I could get an old bath that I could fill with custard? (London Borough of Sutton Council)
- Can you send a pest control officer to remove a frog from the bottom of the communal stairs in my block of flats? (Crawley Borough Council)
- Am I allowed to bury my horse in my back garden? (Warwickshire County Council)
- “I’ve tried the number given on your website for the library but it doesn’t work.” “What was the number?” “0900 1800” “I’m sorry those are the times the library is open between...” (Surrey County Council)
- How can I get permission to pitch a tent on the central reservation of the A35 trunk road? (Derby City Council)
- How do you make a marinade to put on my barbecue steaks? (Newark and Sherwood District Council)
- A woman rang to say she couldn’t get any reception on her TV. She’d already contacted the police and the fire brigade but they couldn’t help, so she called the council (Rossendale Borough Council)
- Can you remove all porn from the internet? (Westminster City Council)
Published by LGA: 26 August 2013) |
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Power to the people
Published : 19 September 2013
Communities up and down the country are being urged by the Government to get in the driving seat, turn up the volume to get their voice heard ... read more |
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Making a difference
Published : 19 September 2013
ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) has just published its 2012-13 annual report on Defra’s investment in its Network. Making ... read more |
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