The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report advising Members of the arrangements for the statutory polling place and polling district statutory review 2023.

The Civic and Electoral Services Manager reported that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) must conduct a statutory review of polling places and polling districts every five years which can start no earlier than 1 October 2023 and must be completed within 16 months.  Therefore, this must be completed no later than 31 January 2025.

Members were informed that the statutory responsibility for reviewing UK Parliamentary polling districts and places rests with each relevant local authority in Great Britain for so much of any constituency as is situated in its area.

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to undertake a full review of their Parliamentary polling places and polling districts within the Borough and make such changes as would be considered necessary to ensure they remain accessible to all electors.  Any proposed changes to current arrangements would be presented for consideration at the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee meeting on 23 November 2023.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the Civic and Electoral Services Manager advised that any proposed changes would be presented to this Committee at its meeting on 23 November in order that the new register could be published on 1 December 2023 to enable the register to be used for elections held in May 2024 as publication would be delayed otherwise.  Members were also advised that no changes were envisaged for local elections and that in addition to the statutory review required to be taken every 5 years, polling places were reviewed following each election by Electoral Services. 

Members were advised that the consultation in respect of the polling place and polling district review would take place with local disability and community groups and all Members, notices would be placed in Birkenhead Town Hall and on the internet, there would be a press release then local MP’s would be invited to comment and anyone who wishes to comment would be invited to do so.  Details of these comments would be published on a paper notification in Birkenhead Town Hall, on the internet and as part of a press release.

The Chair thanked the Electoral team for their ongoing hard work.

On a motion by Councillor M Redfern and seconded by Councillor M Sullivan, it was –

Resolved – That the Polling Place and Polling District review be undertaken and any proposed changes to current arrangements be presented for consideration at the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee meeting on 23 November 2023.