The Bradford (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-04-09)

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

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 461

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

The Bradford (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Made

7th April 2025

Coming into force in accordance with articles 1(2), (3), and (4)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1 (\"#f00001\")) (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2 (\"#f00002\")) (“the Commission”) published a report dated December 2024(3 (\"#f00003\")) stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the city of Bradford. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Bradford (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

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

(3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force—

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

(b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England(4 (\"#f00004\")) in 2026.

(4) Article 5 comes into force—

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

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

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

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Bradford (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(5 (\"#f00005\")).

(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.

Wards of the city of Bradford and number of councillors

3.—(1) The existing wards of the city of Bradford are abolished.

(2) The city of Bradford is divided into the 30 wards listed in Schedule 1.

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

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is three.

Elections of the city of Bradford

4.—(1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the city of Bradford are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

(2) The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2026 are to retire on that fourth day, and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.

(3) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2026—

(a)one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027;

(b)one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028;

(c)one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2030.

(4) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2026—

(a)the first councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes;

(b)the second councillor for each ward to retire is 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) An election to replace a councillor who is to retire under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in the year in which the retirement is due to take place, and any newly elected councillor is to come into office on the fourth day after that day.

(8) 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.

Parish wards of the parishes of Baildon, Bingley, Ilkley, and Keighley and number of councillors

5.—(1) The existing parish wards of Baildon, Bingley, Ilkley, and Keighley are abolished.

(2) The parish of Baildon is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3) The parish of Bingley is divided into the nine parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

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

(5) The parish of Keighley is divided into the 15 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

(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 2.

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Ailsa Irvine

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

7th April 2025

Schedules

Article 3(2)

Schedule 1Wards of the city of Bradford

1. Airedale

2. Baildon

3. Bingley East

4. Bingley West

5. Bolton & Undercliffe

6. Bowling & Barkerend

7. Bradford Moor

8. City

9. Clayton & Fairweather Green

10. Eccleshill

11. Great Horton

12. Heaton & Frizinghall

13. Holme Wood & Bierley

14. Idle & Thackley

15. Ilkley & Addingham

16. Keighley Central

17. Keighley East

18. Keighley West

19. Little Horton

20. Manningham

21. Queensbury

22. Royds

23. Shipley

24. Thornton & Allerton

25. Toller

26. Wharfedale

27. Wibsey & Odsal

28. Windhill & Wrose

29. Worth Valley

30. Wyke

Article 5

Schedule 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Baildon and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillorsEast2North2South3South East2South West1West2

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of Bingley and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillorsBingley Central1Cottingley3Crossflatts & Micklethwaite2Crow Nest2Eldwick2Gilstead2Lady Lane & Oakwood1Myrtle Park2Priestthorpe1

Table 3

Parish wards of the parish of Ilkley and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillorsBen Rhydding North2Ben Rhydding South2Ilkley North3Ilkley South3Ilkley West4

Table 4

Parish wards of the parish of Keighley and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillorsBogthorn & Exley1Bracken Bank & Ingrow3Fell Lane & Westburn3Guardhouse1Highfield2Knowle Park1Lawkholme & Showfield2Laycock & Braithwaite1Long Lee & Parkwood2Morton & Sandbeds2Oakworth3Riddlesden & Stockbridge3Spring Gardens & Utley3Town1Woodhouse & Hainworth2

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

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

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the city of Bradford and replaces them with the 30 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 2026. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes provision for a whole city council election in 2026. Subsequently, the council will revert to the existing system of election by thirds. That article also provides for the order of retirement of councillors in 2027, 2028 and 2030 and the election of their replacements.

Article 5 makes changes to parish wards which are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 5 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each 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/bradford/ (\"https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bradford/\").

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

(1)

2009 c. 20 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/20\").

(2)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

(3)

The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bradford/ (\"https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bradford/\").

(4)

The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1983/2\"), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1985/50\"), renumbered by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1999/29\"), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2017/4\").

(5)

Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bradford/ (\"https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bradford/\").