Councillors for a principal area shall be elected by the local government electors for that area in accordance with this Act and Part I of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
For the purposes of the election of councillors—
every non-metropolitan county shall be divided into electoral divisions, each returning (subject to paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to this Act and subject to section 56(8) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009and section 12(4) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) one councillor;
every metropolitan district shall be divided into wards, each returning such number of councillors as may be provided as mentioned in subsection (3) below;
every non-metropolitan district shall be divided into wards, each returning such number of councillors as may be provided as mentioned in subsection (3) below;
and there shall be a separate election for each electoral division or ward.
The number of councillors referred to in subsection (2)(b) or (c) above may be provided—
under or by virtue of the provisions of section 7 below;
by an order under Part 2 of the Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19) or Part 3 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
by an order under section 14 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 (c. 29);
by an order under Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.