Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Operations

The Group Director of Operations submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to conducting an interim review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations ahead of the Local Government (Borough) Elections in 2023.

The submitted report stated that the Representation of the People Act 1983 (RPA 1983), as amended by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, required local authorities to conduct reviews of the Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations within their local authority area, and that the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 subsequently outlined the timing of such compulsory reviews, with the next compulsory review due to commence within the sixteen-month period beginning on 1st October 2023. It was reported that a local authority may, however, conduct an interim review at any time, although it would still have to conduct a full review during the compulsory timeframe.

The submitted report outlined that number of previously approved Polling Places were no longer available to the local authority at the elections held in 2021, and that there were a number of new provisions contained within the Elections Act 2022.

It was therefore considered prudent to conduct an interim review of the Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations during the Summer/Autumn of 2022, ahead of the Local Government (Borough) Elections in 2023, to ensure that suitable Polling Places are available, that all remain fit for purpose and can adapt to any provisions brought forward from within the Elections Act 2022.

RESOLVED - That an interim review of the Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations be conducted in accordance with the review process and timescales as outlined at Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

REASON - To ensure that suitable Polling Places and Polling Stations are available, fit for purpose and are suitable for any of the provisions contained within the Elections Act 2022, ahead of the Local Government (Borough) Elections in May 2023.