Members of the Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor G Watt declared a non pecuniary interest in item 4, Review of Polling Districts and Places 2013, by virtue of being the Council Member referred to in the report in respect of West Kirby and Thurstaston Ward.

Councillor P Gilchrist declared a non pecuniary interest in item 3, Wirral Award, by virtue of having nominated a candidate for the Award.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2013.

Resolved - That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2013 be approved.

  Councillor P Gilchrist declared a non pecuniary interest in this matter (see minute 16 above).

The Director of Transformation and Resources presented for consideration the recommendations of the Wirral Award Working Party held on 9 December 2013.  The Wirral Award was intended to confer civic recognition upon individuals or organisations resident or located in Wirral for an outstanding achievement within the previous twelve months, or for distinguished service to the Borough over a period of twenty years or more.

It was reported that once nominations were agreed, a presentation ceremony would be arranged which would be attended by The Mayor of Wirral, the Leader of the Council, Group Leaders, the Chair of the Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee, the Chief Executive and the nominees plus one guest each.

The recommendations of the Wirral Award Working Party had been circulated to Members of the Committee for their consideration.

Resolved - That the Wirral Award 2013 be conferred on the recipients recommended by the Wirral Award Working Party, and the suggested arrangements be agreed.

Councillor G Watt declared a non pecuniary interest in this matter (see minute 16 above).

The Principal Electoral Services Officer (on behalf of the Chief Executive) provided details of the review undertaken in relation to the current polling districts and places within the Borough and sought approval of suitable alternatives and changes as set out within the report.

The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduced a duty on all local authorities to review polling districts and places within their boundaries every four years.  This was amended by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 which provided that there must be a review of all ‘polling districts’ and ‘polling places’ within each ‘compulsory period’ which is defined as the period of 16 months beginning with 1 October 2013 and the period of 16 months beginning with 1 October of every fifth year after that.

This provision was to align polling district and polling place reviews with the 5 year fixed term Parliaments and UK Parliamentary boundary reviews, however there was nothing in the Act to prevent the Council carrying out an earlier review of some or all of its polling districts or places.

In practice, the Council constantly keeps polling places and stations under review.

The purpose of the review was to principally ensure that:

• all electors in the constituency have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances;

• so far as reasonable and practicable, the polling districts places and stations are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled and when considering the designation of a polling place to have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons; and

• where there is no fully accessible building conveniently located for the Electors in an area, where it is necessary to use a place where the access is not ideal then every reasonable adjustment must be undertaken to provide access for all Electors.

Members considered and determined each proposal separately.

1.  Heswall Ward

District RD

The Acting Returning Officer advised that concerns persisted regarding parking facilities in the area of the current polling place at St Peter’s Centre, however the Centre was considered a very suitable venue with good disabled access and facilities and two elections had been successfully administered at this venue.

Resolved - That the status quo should continue.

2.  Leasowe and Moreton East Ward

District TC

The Acting Returning Officer advised that the current venue of Eastway Primary School Children’s Centre was a very suitable venue with good disabled access and facilities and that this remained the best option for a polling place within the polling district.

Resolved - That the status quo should continue.

3.  Moreton West & Saughall Massie Ward

District YC

The Acting Returning Officer advised that the current polling place was Foxfields School but that this may be sold for redevelopment in the future, however, this was not anticipated to happen until late 2014 if at all.

Resolved - That the status quo should continue for the Combined European Parliamentary and Local Government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.