An Act to establish Provisions for Local Government in Counties through a County Council, and for purposes connected therewith

Preface

1. This Bill will be known as the County Councils Act, Bill 1043, 2026.

Consequential amendments

2. Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Local Government Act, 2026 are repealed in their entirety.

County Councils

3. Each county in Baustralia can be locally administered by an elected County Council.
4. A County Council for a county will only be established by an Order of Council.
5. A County Council will handle the day-to-day affairs of running a county and its subordinate local government entities.
6. The duties, responsibilities and powers of a County Council over its affairs will be promulgated by an Order of Council.

Wards

7. A county councillor will be elected from an electoral polity known as a ward.
8. The area of a ward will be the area contained within the boundaries of the county itself.
9. The number of county councillors returned will be determined and promulgated by the Secretary of State following a review conducted by the Election Commission.
10. In conducting a review under Section 10 of this Act, the Election Commission will have regard to:
1. the need to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, equality of representation between electors;
2. the desirability of reflecting local community identities and interests;
3. the desirability of securing effective and convenient local government; and
4. readily identifiable and permanent physical boundaries.
5. An order under Section 10 of this Act will not come into force until the next ordinary election of councillors, unless the order otherwise provides.

Nomination of county councillors

11. A person will not be validly nominated as a candidate unless they have been nominated by one elector entitled to vote at an election.
12. A candidate may nominate themselves, provided the candidate is a qualified elector.

Election of County Councillors

13. The councillors of a County Council will be elected on an annual basis.
14. The election of councillors will be held on the first Thursday of March of each year.
15. Notwithstanding Section 14, the date of the first election will be appointed by the Secretary of State.
16. A person will be entitled to vote at an election of councillors if that person is entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election.
17. When a vacancy occurs in the office of a councillor, it will be filled by a by-election at a time and in a manner in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.

Election procedures

18. If there are vacant seats to be filled following the counting of votes, any votes received by an elected candidate after that candidate reached the quota will be recounted and the votes awarded to the candidate whom the voter has marked as their subsequent preference that is not yet eliminated or elected. Following this, the candidate who has received the least amount of votes will be eliminated and their votes will be awarded to the next highest-preferenced candidate who has not been eliminated or elected.
19. Should no candidate receive a majority of the votes counted, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and ballots with the candidate marked as the first preference will be recounted with only the second preference votes counted. This process will continue until a candidate is elected with a majority of the vote.
20. Any question of votes affecting a situation of a tie will be broken by the Chief Election Commissioner.

Election of Chair

21. At the first meeting following each election, a County Council will elect one of its councillors to serve as Chair.
22. Any councillor may nominate themselves, or any other councillor, for election as Chair.
23. A candidate receiving a majority of votes cast will be declared duly elected.
24. Where no candidate receives a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated and a further ballot will be held until one candidate receives a majority.
25. The councillor so elected will be appointed as Chair by the Lord Mayor on behalf of the Crown.

Functions of the Chair

26. The Chair will:
1. preside at meetings of the Council;
2. direct and supervise the Executive;
3. represent the Council in its official capacity and perform such other functions as may be conferred by statute, custom or tradition.

Executive Council

27. There will be an Executive Council, consisting of such officers as a County Council may establish by resolution passed by a simple majority of councillors.
28. The Chair will nominate councillors to hold the offices comprising the Executive Council.
29. Where the motion is approved by a simple majority, the nominated councillor will be deemed elected to the Executive Council.
30. Executive members elected under Section 29 will be appointed by the Lord Mayor acting on behalf of the Crown.
31. Where a vacancy occurs in an office of the Executive, the Chair will nominate a councillor to fill the vacancy.

Budget

32. The Council will approve an annual budget for each financial year.
33. The annual budget will be approved no later than 30 September preceding the commencement of the financial year to which it relates.
34. The Chief Secretary for the Treasury will confirm funds to be allocated by His Royal Treasury to County Councils annually.
35. Should the Council be unable to approve a budget, the Chief Secretary for the Treasury will initiate the process of approving a supplementary budget motion to secure supply for the County Council. During this time, the authority of the Council, except in relation to the setting of a budget, selection or removal of the Chair and Executive Council, and other areas determined by the Secretary of State, will be exercised by the Secretary of State.