The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report detailing the proposed fees to be paid to the Returning Officer and his staff employed to undertake duties at the local elections held within the Borough.

The Electoral Services Manager reported that the next scheduled local elections would take place on Thursday 4 May 2023 and the local election fees for 2023 were set in in Appendix 1 to the report.  The fees and charges had been considered and endorsed by the Returning Officer.

Members were advised that consideration had been given to a range of fees which could be paid to the Returning Officer and that the recommendation put forward had been informed by both national guidance and information gathered from other Merseyside Local Authorities.  Annual fees were uprated using the retail price index percentage increase.  It was reported that in accordance with the Representation of the People’s Act 1983, the cost of a local government election would be met from the local authority budget.

Discussions took place in respect of staff receiving their salary and a fee when undertaking election duties and it was suggested that this be investigated over the next four years.

Resolved (by assent) – That the fees to be paid to the Returning Officer and his staff employed to undertake duties at the local elections held within the Borough as set out within Appendix 1 to the report be endorsed.