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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2025 No. 1344
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND
The Sandwell (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
Made - - - - 11th December 2025
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and
(3)
Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1)
(“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) (“the Commission”)
published a report dated September 2025(3) stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral
arrangements for the borough of Sandwell. 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 Sandwell (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 purposes 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 England(4) in 2026.
(4) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.
(1) 2009 c. 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 (c. 20).
(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/sandwell/.
(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), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), renumbered by paragraph
5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act
2017 (c. 4).Document Generated: 2025-12-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
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Interpretation
2.—(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Sandwell
(Electoral Changes) Order 2025” held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for
England(5).
(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
that feature.
Wards of the borough of Sandwell and number of councillors
3.—(1) The existing wards of the borough of Sandwell are abolished.
(2) The borough of Sandwell is divided into the 24 wards listed in the Schedule.
(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 borough of Sandwell
4.—(1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the borough of Sandwell 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 England 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, and
(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, and
(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.
(5) The map 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/
sandwell/.
2Document Generated: 2025-12-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Ailsa Irvine
Chief Executive
Local Government Boundary Commission for
11th December 2025 England
3Document Generated: 2025-12-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Schedule Article 3
Wards of the borough of Sandwell
1. Bearwood
2. Blackheath
3. Bristnall
4. Charlemont & Grove Vale
5. Cradley Heath & Old Hill
6. Friar Park & Stone Cross
7. Great Barr, Tamebridge & Yew Tree
8. Great Bridge
9. Greets Green & Lyng
10. Hateley Heath
11. Hill Top
12. Langley
13. Newton & Valley
14. Old Warley
15. Oldbury
16. Princes End
17. Rowley
18. Smethwick
19. Soho & Victoria
20. St Pauls
21. Tipton Green
22. Tividale
23. Wednesbury
24. West Bromwich Central
4Document Generated: 2025-12-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Sandwell following
recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order
does not change the boundary of the borough itself.
Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Sandwell and replaces them with
the 24 new ones listed in the Schedule for the purposes of elections 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 council election in 2026. Subsequently, the council will revert
to the existing system of election by thirds. Article 4 also provides for the order of retirement of
councillors in 2027, 2028 and 2030 and the election of their replacements.
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 principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission
for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map is also accessible online at
https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/sandwell/.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact
on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
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