The Sunderland (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
The Sunderland (Electoral Changes) Order 2025 modifies Sunderland's electoral arrangements, abolishing existing wards and introducing 25 new ones based on Local Government Boundary Commission for England recommendations.
It sets forth a schedule for council elections, including staggered retirements of councillors, and outlines procedures for resolving any vote ties.
The order also alters parish wards in Hetton, aligning them with the city's changes.
These adjustments aim for improved representation and electoral efficiency.
Arguments For
Improved Representation: The revised ward boundaries aim to ensure fairer and more effective representation of Sunderland's diverse communities.
Efficiency and Modernization: The changes may streamline local governance and improve administrative efficiency.
Compliance with Legal Framework: The order adheres to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, ensuring legality and transparency in the electoral process.
Evidence-Based Decisions: The changes are based on recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, following a review process.
Arguments Against
Disruption to Existing Systems: The abolition of existing wards and the introduction of new ones can cause temporary disruption to local services and community engagement.
Potential for Gerrymandering: Concerns may arise regarding the potential for manipulation of ward boundaries to favor certain political groups, though this is mitigated by the independent review process.
Community Impact: Changes to ward boundaries might affect established community ties and local identities.
Cost of Implementation: The process of implementing the new electoral arrangements may involve administrative costs.
Citation, commencement, extent and application (1) This Order may be cited as the Sunderland (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 15th October 2025; (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026. (4) Article 5 comes into force— (a) for the purposes 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.
This section establishes the order's official name and effective dates.
Parts of the order come into effect on different dates: some changes related to councillor elections will begin on October 15th, 2025, and October 15th, 2026 for articles 3, 4 and 5.
The remaining changes come into force on the day following the order's enactment and on the next regular election day in 2026 and 2027 for articles 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
The order applies to England, though it legally extends to both England and Wales.
Interpretation (1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Sunderland (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. (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.
This section defines key terms. 'The map' refers to a specific map outlining the new ward boundaries, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
It also clarifies that boundaries following geographical features like roads are considered to run along the center of those features.
Wards of the city of Sunderland and number of councillors (1) The existing wards of the city of Sunderland are abolished. (2) The city of Sunderland is divided into the 25 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.
This section abolishes existing Sunderland wards and creates 25 new ones, detailed in Schedule 1.
The boundaries of these wards are defined by 'the map'.
Each new ward will elect three councillors.
Elections of the city of Sunderland (1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the city of Sunderland 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; (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.
This section details the election process.
A simultaneous election for all wards will occur in 2026.
In subsequent years (2027, 2028, 2030), one councillor from each ward will retire, with those elected with the fewest votes retiring first.
If there's a tie, a lottery determines the retiring councillor.
This system ensures a staggered retirement process, replacing the previous method.
Parish wards of the parish of Hetton and number of councillors (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Hetton are abolished. (2) The parish of Hetton is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 2. (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (4) 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 table in Schedule 2.
This section addresses changes to Hetton parish wards.
Existing wards are abolished and replaced with five new ones, as listed in Schedule 2, with the number of councillors per ward defined in the schedule.
The boundaries are again defined by ‘the map’.
SCHEDULE 1 Wards of the city of Sunderland
- Barnes & Thornhill
- Deptford & Hendon
- Doxford Park
- Farringdon & Silksworth
- Fulwell
- Grangetown
- Grindon & Thorney Close
- Herrington & Newbottle
- Hetton
- Houghton North
- Houghton South & Hetton Downs
- Hylton Castle
- Pallion & Ford
- Pennywell & South Hylton
- Penshaw & Shiney Row
- Redhouse
- Roker
- Ryhope
- Southwick
- Tunstall & Humbledon
- Washington Central
- Washington East
- Washington North
- Washington South
- Washington West
This schedule lists the 25 new wards created for the city of Sunderland.
SCHEDULE 2 Parish wards of the parish of Hetton and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Easington Lane 6 East Rainton 2 Hetton Downs 4 Hetton-le-Hole 8 Moorsley 1
This schedule lists the five new parish wards created for the parish of Hetton, along with the number of councillors to be elected for each ward.