Clause 12
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
5:45 pm
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise that matter. It is slightly more extensive than the simple requirement to ensure proper change, because it covers the transitional period of change from one authority structure to another.
The clause defines the “electoral matters” in respect of the councillors, in clause 11(4)(c), including the total number of councillors of any local authority and
“the number of councillors to be returned”
in any particular ward, division or electoral area. It mentions appointing existing councillors as councillors to the new authorities for a transitional period until the first elections for those authorities are held. Obviously, they would be the councillors for that electoral area. The clause also makes provision for elections to the new authority, in case the Electoral Commission is not able to carry out a review and put in place electoral arrangements for the new authority before it is established. I do not believe that that has ever happened, but the clause could, hypothetically, do so. To be fair to the hon. Gentleman, the measure is slightly more extensive in that it covers the transitional period.