Citation, commencement and interpretation

1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2014) Order 2013, and comes into force on the day after that on which it is made.

(2) In this Order “the 1972 Act” means the Local Government Act 1972( 2 ).

Change of ordinary day of election

2. In 2014, the ordinary day of election of councillors in England for—

(a) counties, districts and London Boroughs; and

(b) parishes,

shall be changed so as to be the same as the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election held in that year.

Retirement of councillors retiring or coming into office in 2014

3. —(1) The retirement date of a councillor who would regularly retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2014 shall be determined in accordance with article 2, even if, as a result of the change in the ordinary day of election, his or her term of office will be longer than the period specified in any enactment.

(2) The retirement date of a councillor who comes into office on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2014 shall be unaffected by article 2, even if, as a result of the change in the ordinary day of election, his or her term of office will be shorter than the term specified in any enactment.

Elections to fill casual vacancies

4. In relation to a casual vacancy in the office of a councillor of a county council in England, London borough, district or parish council who would regularly have retired on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election in 2014—

(a) section 89(3) of the 1972 Act has effect as if for the words “six months before the day on which the councillor whose office is vacant would regularly have retired” there were substituted the words “the period of six months immediately before the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election held in 2014”; and

(b) paragraphs (3) and (6) of rule 5 of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006( 3 ) have effect as if for the words “six months before the day on which that councillor would regularly have retired” there were substituted the words “the period of six months immediately before the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary election held in 2014”.

Annual meetings

5. In relation to the annual meetings of authorities in England in 2014, the provisions of Schedule 12 to the 1972 Act have effect as if—

(a) in paragraph 6A(1)( 4 ) (date of annual meeting of joint authorities), for the words “1st March and 30th June” there were substituted the words “the fourth day after the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election and 31st August”;

(b) in paragraph 14(1) (date of annual meeting of parish), in the case of a parish council for which 2014 is a year of ordinary elections, for the words “1st March and 1st June” there were substituted the words “the fourth day after the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election and 31st July”.

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

6. In its application in 2014, Schedule 28 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999( 5 ) has effect as if in paragraph 10(1) (meetings and proceedings), for the words “1st March and 30th June” there were substituted the words “the fourth day after the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election and 31st August”.