Citation, commencement, extent and application

article 1 + 1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

(3) Article 3 comes into force—

article 1 3 a + (a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

article 1 3 b + (b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England(4) in 2025.

(4) Article 4 comes into force—

article 1 4 a + (a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2025;

article 1 4 b + (b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

(5) Article 5 comes into force—

article 1 5 a + (a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2026;

article 1 5 b + (b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

(6) Articles 6 and 7 come into force—

article 1 6 a + (a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2027;

article 1 6 b + (b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028.

(7) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation

term the map + article 2 + 2.—(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(5).

(2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Electoral divisions of Essex and number of councillors

article 3 + 3.—(1) The existing electoral divisions of Essex are abolished.

(2) Essex is divided into the 78 electoral divisions listed in Schedule 1.

(3) Each electoral division comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division is 1.

Parish wards of the parish of Wickford

article 4 + 4.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Wickford are abolished.

(2) The parish of Wickford is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 2.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 2.

Parish wards of the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford

article 5 + 5.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford are abolished.

(2) The parish of Chelmsford Garden is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 3.

(3) The parish of Ramsey & Parkeston is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 3.

(4) The parish of Rayleigh is divided into the eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 3.

(5) The parish of Rochford is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 3.

(6) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(7) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 3.

Parish wards of the parish of Billericay

article 6 + 6.—(1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Billericay are abolished.

(2) The parish of Billericay is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 4.

(3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 4.

Parish wards of the parish of Epping Upland

article 7 + 7.—(1) The parish of Epping Upland is divided into two parish wards, namely—

article 7 1 a + (a)Epping Green, which has six councillors; and

article 7 1 b + (b)Pond Field, which has one councillor.

(2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

Schedules

Article 3

Schedule 1Electoral Divisions of Essex

schedule 1 paragraph 1 + 1.  Billericay North

schedule 1 paragraph 2 + 2.  Bocking

schedule 1 paragraph 3 + 3.  Braintree Eastern

schedule 1 paragraph 4 + 4.  Braintree Town

schedule 1 paragraph 5 + 5.  Brentwood Hutton

schedule 1 paragraph 6 + 6.  Brentwood North

schedule 1 paragraph 7 + 7.  Brentwood Rural

schedule 1 paragraph 8 + 8.  Brentwood South

schedule 1 paragraph 9 + 9.  Brightlingsea

schedule 1 paragraph 10 + 10.  Broomfield & Writtle

schedule 1 paragraph 11 + 11.  Burnham & Southminster

schedule 1 paragraph 12 + 12.  Burstead

schedule 1 paragraph 13 + 13.  Canvey Island East

schedule 1 paragraph 14 + 14.  Canvey Island West

schedule 1 paragraph 15 + 15.  Castledon & Crouch

schedule 1 paragraph 16 + 16.  Chelmer

schedule 1 paragraph 17 + 17.  Chelmsford Central

schedule 1 paragraph 18 + 18.  Chelmsford North

schedule 1 paragraph 19 + 19.  Chelmsford Springfield

schedule 1 paragraph 20 + 20.  Chelmsford West

schedule 1 paragraph 21 + 21.  Chigwell & Buckhurst Hill East

schedule 1 paragraph 22 + 22.  Clacton North

schedule 1 paragraph 23 + 23.  Clacton South

schedule 1 paragraph 24 + 24.  Clacton West & St Osyth

schedule 1 paragraph 25 + 25.  Colchester Abbey

schedule 1 paragraph 26 + 26.  Colchester Lexden

schedule 1 paragraph 27 + 27.  Colchester Maypole

schedule 1 paragraph 28 + 28.  Colchester North

schedule 1 paragraph 29 + 29.  Colchester St Johns

schedule 1 paragraph 30 + 30.  Constable

schedule 1 paragraph 31 + 31.  Danbury & The Hanningfields

schedule 1 paragraph 32 + 32.  Dunmow

schedule 1 paragraph 33 + 33.  Epping & Theydon Bois

schedule 1 paragraph 34 + 34.  Frinton & Walton

schedule 1 paragraph 35 + 35.  Gloucester Park

schedule 1 paragraph 36 + 36.  Great Baddow & Galleywood

schedule 1 paragraph 37 + 37.  Hadleigh

schedule 1 paragraph 38 + 38.  Halstead

schedule 1 paragraph 39 + 39.  Harlow Common & Church Langley

schedule 1 paragraph 40 + 40.  Harlow Nettleswell

schedule 1 paragraph 41 + 41.  Harlow Parndon & Toddbrook

schedule 1 paragraph 42 + 42.  Harlow South West

schedule 1 paragraph 43 + 43.  Harwich

schedule 1 paragraph 44 + 44.  Hedingham

schedule 1 paragraph 45 + 45.  Laindon Town

schedule 1 paragraph 46 + 46.  Loughton North

schedule 1 paragraph 47 + 47.  Loughton South & Buckhurst Hill West

schedule 1 paragraph 48 + 48.  Maldon Rural North

schedule 1 paragraph 49 + 49.  Maldon Rural South

schedule 1 paragraph 50 + 50.  Maldon Town & Heybridge

schedule 1 paragraph 51 + 51.  Mersea & Tiptree

schedule 1 paragraph 52 + 52.  North Weald & Nazeing

schedule 1 paragraph 53 + 53.  Old Harlow

schedule 1 paragraph 54 + 54.  Ongar & Rural

schedule 1 paragraph 55 + 55.  Pitsea

schedule 1 paragraph 56 + 56.  Rayleigh South

schedule 1 paragraph 57 + 57.  Rayleigh West

schedule 1 paragraph 58 + 58.  Rochford East

schedule 1 paragraph 59 + 59.  Rochford North

schedule 1 paragraph 60 + 60.  Rochford South

schedule 1 paragraph 61 + 61.  Saffron Walden

schedule 1 paragraph 62 + 62.  South Benfleet

schedule 1 paragraph 63 + 63.  Stansted

schedule 1 paragraph 64 + 64.  Stanway & Marks Tey

schedule 1 paragraph 65 + 65.  Takeley

schedule 1 paragraph 66 + 66.  Tendring Rural East

schedule 1 paragraph 67 + 67.  Tendring Rural West

schedule 1 paragraph 68 + 68.  Thaxted

schedule 1 paragraph 69 + 69.  Three Fields & Great Notley

schedule 1 paragraph 70 + 70.  Thundersley

schedule 1 paragraph 71 + 71.  Vange

schedule 1 paragraph 72 + 72.  Waltham Abbey

schedule 1 paragraph 73 + 73.  Westley Heights

schedule 1 paragraph 74 + 74.  Wickford East & Bowers Gifford

schedule 1 paragraph 75 + 75.  Witham Town

schedule 1 paragraph 76 + 76.  Witham West & Rural

schedule 1 paragraph 77 + 77.  Wivenhoe St Andrew

schedule 1 paragraph 78 + 78.  Woodham Ferrers

Article 4

Schedule 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Wickford

Article 5

Schedule 3Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Chelmsford Garden and number of councillors

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of Ramsey & Parkeston and number of councillors

Table 3

Parish wards of the parish of Rayleigh and number of councillors

Table 4

Parish wards of the parish of Rochford and number of councillors

Article 6

Schedule 4Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Billericay

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Essex following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the local authority itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of Essex and replaces them with the 78 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections to be held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each.

Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 make changes to parish wards which are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by articles 4 and 5 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2026 and 2027 respectively, and in respect of subsequent parish elections. The changes introduced by articles 6 and 7 apply in relation to parish elections in 2028, and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each electoral division and parish ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ.

The map may also be accessed at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/essex.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.