The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North East Region) Order 2004

• Citation: S.I. 2004/1963
• Sections: 14

Section 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North East Region) Order 2004 and shall come into force on the day after that on which it is made.

Section 2 Interpretation

In this Order—

“the Preparations Act ” means the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003; and

“ County Durham ” means the county area of County Durham; and

“ Northumberland ” means the county area of Northumberland.

Section 3 Regional Assembly referendum

On 4th November 2004 a referendum shall be held in the North East region about the establishment of an elected assembly for that region.

Section 4 Local government referendums

On 4th November 2004 a referendum shall be held in each of the following county areas about the government’s proposals for the structure of local government in those areas—

(a) County Durham; and

(b) Northumberland.

Section 5 Referendum period

The referendum period for a referendum held under article 3 or 4—

(a) begins on the date on which this Order comes into force; and

(b) ends with the date of the referendum.

Section 6 Alteration of time for application and designation of designated organisations

(1) For the purposes of section 109 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 , the period of 28 days referred to in subsections (2) and (3) of that section shall have effect in relation to a referendum held under article 3, as if it were a period of 42 days.

(2) For the purposes of section 9 of the Preparations Act, the appropriate day in relation to a referendum held under any of article 3 is—

(a) the fifty-seventh day of the referendum period if one or more applications under section 109 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (applications for assistance under section 110 of that Act) is made before the forty-third day of the referendum period in relation to each possible outcome of the referendum;

(b) the forty-third day of the referendum period in any other case.

Section 7 Text of options–County Durham

In relation to County Durham, the text of the options to be inserted in the referendum question specified in section 3(3) of the Preparations Act, is—

Option A–one single tier local authority (see map for option A).

Option B–three single tier local authorities (see map for option B.)

Section 8 Text of options–Northumberland

In relation to Northumberland, the text of the options to be inserted in the referendum question specified in section 3(3) of the Preparations Act, is—

Option A–one single tier local authority (see map for option A).

Option B–two single tier local authorities (see map for option B).

Section 9 Explanatory material

(1) The explanatory material set out in Schedule 1, which relates to the options in article 7, will be made available for voters at the time they vote in the referendum in County Durham.

(2) The explanatory material set out in Schedule 2, which relates to the options in article 8, will be made available for voters at the time they vote in the referendum in Northumberland.

Section 1 The options

East Durham: this authority would cover the former districts of Durham (city) and Easington.

Section 2 The options

North Durham: this authority would cover the former districts of Chester-le-Street and Derwentside.

Section 3 The options

South Durham: this authority would cover the former districts of Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley.

Option A and Option B are illustrated on the maps in this explanatory information.

For more information contact the Electoral Commission on 0800-3280-280, textphone 0800-3280-838, or visit www.regionalvote.co.uk .

Section 1 The options

Rural Northumberland: this authority would cover the former districts of Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Castle Morpeth and Tynedale.

Section 2 The options

South East Northumberland: this authority would cover the former districts of Blyth Valley and Wansbeck.

Option A and Option B are illustrated on the maps in this explanatory information.

For more information contact the Electoral Commission on 0800-3280-280, textphone 0800-3280-838, or visit www.regionalvote.co.uk .