Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Rules may be cited as the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2015.

(2) These Rules come into force on 2nd March 2015 but have no effect in relation to any election in respect of which the date of the poll specified in the notice of election is on or before 6th May 2015.

(3) In these Rules, unless otherwise stated, any reference to a numbered Schedule is a reference to the Schedule bearing that number in the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006(3).

Amendment of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

2.  In the Appendix of Forms in Schedule 2 (Rules for Conduct of an Election of Councillors of a Principal Area where Poll is not taken together with Poll at another Election)-

(1) (a) in the "Form of Candidate's Consent to Nomination" in the "Back of form"-

(i)(i) for "and section 79" substitute ", sections 78A and 79";

(ii)(ii) after "Local Government Act 2000" insert "and section 34 of the Localism Act 2011";

(2) (b) for the following forms substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 1 to these Rules-

(i)Form of Front of Ballot Paper;

(ii)Directions as to Printing the Ballot Paper.

3.  In the Appendix of Forms in Schedule 3 (Rules for Conduct of an Election of Councillors of a Principal Area where the Poll is taken together with the Poll at a Relevant Election or Referendum)-

(a)in the "Form of Candidate's Consent to Nomination" in the "Back of form"-

(i)for "and section 79" substitute ", sections 78A and 79";

(ii)after "Local Government Act 2000" insert "and section 34 of the Localism Act 2011";

(b)for the following forms substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 2 to these Rules-

(i)Form of Front of Ballot Paper;

(ii)Directions as to Printing the Ballot Paper.

Rule 2(2)

SCHEDULE 1Amended forms for use at an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is not taken together with another election or referendum

Form of front of ballot paper

Rule 3(2)

SCHEDULE 2Amended forms for use at an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum

Form of front of ballot paper

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules make changes to the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3304) (the "2006 Rules").

Rules 2(1) and 3(1) amend the statutory references on the back of the Form of Candidate's Consent to Nomination in Schedule 2 to the 2006 Rules so that they are consistent with rule 7 of Schedule 2 to the 2006 Rules, as amended by the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/494).

Rule 2(2) amends the Form of Ballot Paper in Schedule 2 to the 2006 Rules to remove the numbers against candidates' names and inserts revised printing directions.

Rule 3(1) amends the statutory references on the back of the Form of Candidate's Consent to Nomination in schedule 3 to the 2006 Rules so that they are consistent with rule 7 of Schedule 3 to the 2006 Rules, as amended by the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/494).

Rule 3(2) amends the Form of Ballot Paper in Schedule 3 to the 2006 Rules to remove the numbers against candidates' names and inserts revised printing directions.