Issue - meetings

The report was introduced by the Electoral Services Manager who said the most significant changes arising from the statutory review which took place every four years arose from a proposal by Councillor Davis to move 203 properties in polling district DLA1 to DLA6 and a suggestion by Councillor Jeffrey which moved 53 properties from DLC5 to DLC1. The Electoral Services Manager confirmed the Council was able to amend polling districts within a ward but had no power to move polling districts between wards.

In response to a question from Councillor Paschoud, in his capacity as Chair of the Children & Young People Select Committee, the Head of Law confirmed no secondary schools were to be used as polling stations and that while numerous primary schools were to be used, officers were open to considering suggestions about any reasonably priced alternative locations.

Councillor Curran reiterated previously expressed concerns about electoral signage and was assured by the Head of Law that revisions had been made in time for the 2011 Referendum and that training in effective signage deployment had been given to Presiding Officers and to Visiting Officers. Councillor Curran said he had not been able to closely monitor the Referendum campaign but that he was grateful that his concerns had been addressed.

Councillor Paschoud inquired about the accuracy of the high quality maps on the website and was informed by the Electoral Services Manager that the maps did not display the current proposals but that they would be updated once they had been agreed by the Council.

RESOLVED that Council be recommended to agree that the polling districts and places set out in Appendix A, which includes amendments in paragraph 6 of the report, be adopted and the changes be included in the Electoral Register published on 1 December 2011 and that they be effective at subsequent elections.