The Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
The Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025 alters the boundary between two Shropshire county electoral divisions, namely Severn Valley and Sutton & Reabrook divisions.
This adjustment stems from recommendations made by Shropshire Council and approved by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
The changes, reflecting alterations made to parish boundaries, take effect for election proceedings after the Order's enactment and for all other purposes on the ordinary day of the 2025 councillor elections in England.
Arguments For
Improved Electoral Representation: The boundary changes aim to ensure fairer and more efficient electoral representation, reflecting current population distributions and community governance changes.
Alignment with Parish Boundary Changes: The alterations are directly linked to the Shropshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2025, creating consistent boundaries across administrative levels.
Legal Basis: The Order is made under the power conferred by section 92(3) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, following Shropshire Council recommendations.
Evidence-Based Decisions: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England reviewed Shropshire Council's recommendations before deciding to implement the changes.
Arguments Against
Potential Disruption to Elections: The boundary changes may cause temporary confusion for voters and election officials in the affected areas.
Administrative Burden: Implementation might necessitate updating electoral registers and related administrative procedures.
Unforeseen Consequences: While a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary, minor unintended consequences related to voter turnout or representation could arise.
Alternative Approaches: Alternative boundary adjustments could have been explored, but the adopted approach reflects the Commission's judgment concerning the best outcome based on the council's recommendations and available evidence.
Citation, commencement, extent and application 1.
(1) This Order may be cited as the Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.
(2) This article comes into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
(3) Article 2 (alteration of county electoral division boundary) comes into force— (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; (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England3 in 2025.
(4) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.
This section details the Order's official title, effective date, and geographic scope.
The Order's citation is established as the "Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025." The enforcement begins the day following its enactment.
Subsection 3 specifies that the boundary changes become legally pertinent the day after the order's enactment for issues related to councillor elections, but for all other aspects only come into effect during the next ordinary English councillor election day in 2025.
This Order applies specifically to England, despite extending legally to cover both England and Wales.
Alteration of county electoral division boundary 2.
(1) The area marked B on the map that ceases to be part of the parish of Berrington and becomes part of the parish of Shrewsbury by virtue of that Order, ceases to be part of the Severn Valley county electoral division and becomes part of the Sutton & Reabrook county electoral division.
(2) In this article, “the map” means the map referred to in the Shropshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 20254 and “the area marked B” is a reference to the area identified on a sheet of that map by way of that letter.
This section specifies the actual boundary alteration.
A specific area ('area marked B') that transitions from Berrington parish to Shrewsbury parish, as defined by a separate (prior) Order's map, will now be transferred from the Severn Valley electoral division to the Sutton & Reabrook electoral division.
The section clarifies that 'the map' refers to the accompanying Shropshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2025's map and more specifically to the area marked 'B' detailed on that map.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order gives effect to recommendations made by Shropshire Council (“the Council”) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for related alterations to the boundary between two county electoral divisions within the Council’s area.
The alteration is as consequence of changes to parish boundaries and warding arrangements under the Shropshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2025, which was made by the Council under sections 86 and 240(10) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28). A hard copy of that Order is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND. It is also available online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-02/sealed%20order.pdf.
The changes described in article 2 (in relation to county electoral divisions) apply in respect of elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.
This explanatory note clarifies that the Order implements Shropshire Council's recommendations to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, resulting in a county electoral division boundary change that followed and connects to modifications in community governance and local parish boundaries.
It provides access information for the related Shropshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2025, both in print and online. Furthermore, it reiterates the applicability of the changes in reference to future elections.
Finally, assures interested users that no impact assessment was carried out since no effect on either the private or public sectors was foreseen.