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

No such declarations were made.

A report by the Chief Executive provided details for Members of necessary changes required in relation to polling stations within the Borough and sought approval of suitable alternatives. The recommendation was for Members to designate Hoylake Community Centre as the polling stations for polling district NA and NB contained within the Hoylake Neighbourhood Area.

It was reported that the Council has a duty under the Representation of the People Act 1983 to designate polling stations and that the Localism Act 2011 and accompanying regulations allowed communities to have more control over planning and development within their area.

Following public consultation, the Hoylake Neighbourhood Planning Forum and its corresponding neighbourhood area were designated as a neighbourhood forum which allowed the Forum to prepare and submit a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The Electoral Services Manager reported that the Council published the Decision Statement on the Hoylake Neighbourhood Development Plan on 14 September 2016 and subject to there being no challenge to the Decision Statement, the Plan will be submitted to a referendum of local electors on Thursday 1 December 2016, which would be conducted in accordance with procedures similar to those used at local government elections.

The Electoral Services Manager advised that the designated polling district NA is St Johns Church Centre, School Lane, Meols, however, for the referendum there are only 43 electors contained within the referendum area and are situated just outside the boundary of polling district NB. Members were advised that the designated polling district NB is Hoylake Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Market Street, Hoylake and they had expressed their wish not to be used on this occasion to avoid further disruption to the pupils due to them already having to close the school for the local elections held on 5 May and the EU Referendum held on 23 June this year. Members were then advised that Hoylake Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake is situated within polling district NB and after inspection by Electoral Services is considered to be suitable for use as a polling station for the forthcoming referendum.

It was moved by Councillor T Anderson and seconded by Councillor P Stuart that –

“Hoylake Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake, CH47 3AG be determined as the designated polling station for Hoylake Neighbourhood Area.”

Resolved – That Hoylake Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake, CH47 3AG be determined as the designated polling place for Hoylake Neighbourhood Area.