Local Government, England Citation and commencement 1 1 This Order may be cited as the Hartlepool (Electoral Changes) Order 2012. 2 This Order, with the exception of article 5, comes into force— a for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of councillors for district wards, on the day after that on which it is made; b for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2012. 3 Article 5 comes into force— a for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of councillors for the parish of Greatham, on 15th October 2014; b for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2015. Interpretation 2 In this Order— “map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Hartlepool (Electoral Changes) Order 2012”, of which prints are available for inspection at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England; “ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 . Wards of the district of Hartlepool and number of councillors 3 1 The existing wards of the district of Hartlepool are abolished. 2 The district is divided into eleven wards each bearing a name listed in the Schedule. 3 Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward. 4 Three councillors are to be elected for each ward. 5 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. Elections of the council of the district of Hartlepool 4 1 Elections of all councillors for all wards of the district are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2012 . 2 The councillors holding office for any ward of the district immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2012 are to retire on that date and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that date. 3 Of the councillors elected in 2012 for any ward of the district one is to retire in 2014, one in 2015 and one in 2016. 4 Of the councillors elected in 2012 for any ward of the district— a the first to retire is, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; and b the second to retire is, subject to those paragraphs, to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes. 5 In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any year, the person to retire in that year is to be determined by lot. 6 If an election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year is to be determined by lot. 7 Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot is to be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing is to be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting. Wards of the parish of Greatham and number of councillors 5 1 The parish of Greatham is divided into two wards named respectively— a Greatham South Fens; b Greatham Village. 2 Each ward comprises the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the ward. 3 Four councillors are to be elected for Greatham South Fens ward. 4 Three councillors are to be elected for Greatham Village ward. Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the 3rd day of January 2012 Max Caller Chairman Local Government Boundary Commission for England 3rd January 2012