The Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board (Reconstitution) Order 2026

Published: Thu 16th Jul 26

This Order confirms a scheme submitted by the Environment Agency to reconstitute the Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board.

It reduces the number of elected members on the Board from twenty-one to fifteen and provides for the initial appointment of these members by the Secretary of State.

The Order further ensures that all property, rights, and obligations held by the Board prior to this reconstitution are transferred to the newly reconstituted body.

Arguments For

The order states that the Environment Agency prepared the scheme and submitted it to the Secretary of State under the Land Drainage Act 1991.
The explanatory note indicates that the reconstitution reduces the number of elected members from twenty-one to fifteen.
The document notes that a notice of intent was published and sent to relevant local authorities and bodies, and no objections were made to the draft order.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars might note that the document does not specify the criteria used by the Environment Agency to determine that a reduction in member numbers was necessary.
Affected parties in the drainage district might express concern regarding whether a smaller board of 15 members can adequately represent the geographic or technical interests previously covered by 21 members.
The absence of a full impact assessment means that the specific potential effects on local governance efficiency or cost savings remain unquantified in the public record.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

-(1) This Order may be cited as the Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board (Reconstitution) Order 2026 and comes into force on 17th July 2026.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales, and applies to England only.

This section establishes the official title of the statutory instrument and sets the date it becomes legally effective as 17 July 2026.

Although the order technically extends to the combined legal jurisdiction of England and Wales, its practical application is limited strictly to England.

Confirmation of Scheme with modifications

-(1) The Scheme submitted by the Environment Agency is confirmed with modifications.

(2) The Scheme, as modified by the Secretary of State, is set out in the Schedule to this Order.

This section confirms that the Secretary of State has approved the Environment Agency's proposal, though with certain changes.

It directs the reader to the Schedule of the Order to find the full, finalized text of the organizational scheme.

Schedule

Article 2(2)

Scheme submitted by the Environment Agency, as modified by the Secretary of State

This Scheme comes into force on the day after the day on which the Order confirming this Scheme is made.
In this Scheme-

'the Board' means the Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board constituted by the Scheme confirmed by the Great Ouse River Authority (Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage District) Order 1969 and reconstituted by the Scheme confirmed by the Great Ouse River Authority (Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage District) Order 1973;

'the commencement date' means the date on which this Scheme comes into force;

'elected members' means those members of the Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board who are appointed by the Secretary of State pursuant to this Scheme or elected in accordance with the provisions made by or under Schedule 1 to the Land Drainage Act 1991 and any applicable regulations made under the Act;

'property' includes books of account, other books, deeds, maps, papers and other documents, in whatever medium held, and computer and other electronic records;

'rights and obligations' means all rights, powers, duties (including statutory powers and duties), obligations and liabilities.

-(1) On the commencement date the Board is reconstituted to comprise 15 elected members.

(2) The first elected members of the reconstituted Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board are to be appointed by the Secretary of State and are to hold office until the expiry of one year from the first occurrence of 1st November following the day on which they are appointed.

The property, rights and obligations of the Board immediately before its reconstitution in accordance with paragraph 3 become the property, rights and obligations of the reconstituted Warboys, Somersham and Pidley Internal Drainage Board upon its reconstitution.

This Schedule sets out the operational details of the Board's reorganization, defining key terms such as 'property' and 'elected members'.

It reduces the total number of elected members to 15 and stipulates that the Secretary of State will initially appoint these members for a fixed term.

Finally, it mandates a legal transfer of all assets, documents, and legal responsibilities from the old Board structure to the new 15-member structure.

View Source

Economy Housing Infrastructure Justice Local Government

The Oxford Street Development Corporation (Functions) Order 2026

Thu 16th Jul 26

Transferred local planning authority and specific statutory functions for the Oxford Street development area to the Oxford Street Development Corporation.

Economy Energy Environment Infrastructure