Decision details

RESOLVED: That Council designated the Polling Districts and Polling Places as per the Returning Officer’s Proposals attached as Appendix A to the submitted report, effective as of 2 March 2026.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places, which had to be concluded by 31 January 2025.

(2)   Outside of compulsory reviews, the (Acting) Returning Officer (RO) for each authority is also encouraged to conduct regular assessments of existing arrangements. Following completion of the Community Governance Review (CGR) 2025 which resulted in changes to parish wards – specifically in Ickleford, Baldock, Royston, Clothall and Bygrave. Therefore, the polling arrangements were required to be considered.