Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To agree the scale of fees for electoral events held during 2023/2024.

RESOLVED: That the Council agreed the Scale of Fees for 2023/2024 as set out in Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Council to remunerate the Returning Officer and the staff employed to carry out tasks during electoral events and to be open and transparent regarding other payments.

Audio Recording – 128 minutes 55 seconds

N.B. The Monitoring Officer and Democratic Service Manager noted that they were unable to remain for this item due to their conflict as Deputy Returning Officer and Returning Officer respectively. They left the Chamber for the remainder of the item.

The Service Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘Electoral Services – Scale of Fees 2023/24’ and highlighted:

·         The Scale of Fees proposed had been influenced by those set by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which were not yet publicly available.

·         Proposed that Poll Clerks and Presiding Officers would be paid hourly going forward, with the amounts paid to these roles increasing.

·         There would be a decrease in pay to count staff.

·         Changes in the way canvassing was conducted meant that the return of forms was reducing, and it was felt the proposed changes were a fairer way of reimbursing canvass staff.

·         The Returning Officer fees would be based on the number of elections, rather than based on number of electors as this was more realistic. There had been a percentage increase proposed, as this role had not received an increase in a long time.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Michel Muir

·         Councillor Tom Plater

·         Councillor Adam Compton

In response to questions, the Service Director – Resources advised:

·         The fees for Polling Stations were outside of the scope of this scheme, as this is part of the Electoral Services team workload. This team will source and negotiate a fair fee for Polling Station venues.

·         The reduction in count staff pay was based on the recommendations from DLUHC, and this rate still represented the top of the band for this role. It was expected that most count staff would be retained, and the roles would be paid more in line with Poll Clerk roles.

·         The Count Staff car parking reimbursement was for those staff working at the District Council Offices for postal vote verification and had to pay for parking during this time.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg proposed and Councillor Ruth Brown seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council agreed the Scale of Fees for 2023/2024 as set out in Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Council to remunerate the Returning Officer and the staff employed to carry out tasks during electoral events and to be open and transparent regarding other payments.

N.B. The Returning Officer and Deputy returned to the Chamber following the conclusion of this item.