Agenda item

REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

To outline and report on the outcome of the Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations consultation following a review required by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.

RESOLVED: That Polling Places, as illustrated in the Returning Officer’s Proposals set out in Appendices A and C be designated.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places. The compulsory review must commence and conclude between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive).

Audio Recording – 8 Minutes 45 Seconds

The Democratic Services Manager and The Electoral Services Manager presented the report on the Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations Consultation.

The following appendices accompanied the report:

Appendix A – Polling District Schedule - identified the polling districts, polling places and polling stations for the entire District, along with justification as to any proposed changes.

Appendix B – Consultation Responses

Appendix C – Maps (including District Boundaries

The Democratic Services Manager explained to the Committee that it was a legal requirement for the Council to conduct a full review every 5 years of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places and that the current review must conclude by 31 January 2020.  She further explained that the review was of polling districts and polling places, however, it was accepted that polling stations were linked and therefore the review had incorporated the stations.

The Democratic Services Manager stated:

·                That 11 responses had been received in relation to Royston and District Committee for which a large portion of those responses had related to Royston Meridian and also to Icknield Walk First School who had requested that an alternative location be identified as the school would have to close when an election was held.

The following Member asked questions:

·                Councillor Ben Lewis

In response to questions raised, the Electoral Services Manager advised that:

·                For elections other than Local Elections, i.e. Parliamentary or European Elections, the Council would be able to submit a claim to Central Government to recuperate costs.

It was moved by Councillor Tony Hunter and seconded by Councillor Jean Green and:

RESOLVED:  That Polling Places, as illustrated in the Returning Officer’s Proposals set out in Appendices A and C be designated.

REASON FOR DECISION:  The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places. The compulsory review must commence and conclude between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive).

The Chairman thanked The Democratic Services Manager and The Electoral Services Manager for their presentation.