Issue - meetings

Report number DEM013 by the Returning Officer.  (Enclosure)

DECISION:

(1)           To approve the amended proposals for the polling districts and polling stations for the Harrowby ward in Grantham;

(2)           Authorize the publication of the final proposal as required by the Electoral Administration Act 2006;

(3)           To approve the incorporation of these changes as part of the annual publication of the electoral register on 1^st December 2008.

The Access and Engagement portfolio holder presented to the Council  report number DEM013, in which the Returning Officer referred to the decision made at the last ordinary meeting of the Council to approve the proposals for new polling districts, polling places and polling stations as submitted but that the issues raised during debate be considered by the Engagement PDG as part of the ongoing review of polling districts and polling places.  The Engagement PDG had subsequently met on 27^th March 2008 to give further consideration to the comments made.  The recommendation from the PDG was to propose changes to the Harrowby ward to provide for four polling districts instead of three and to reinstate the use of Belton Lane school as a polling station.

The Returning Officer explained that implementation of the review had been deferred pending referral back to the Council.  Subject to the Council’s approval of the changes to the Harrowby ward, all the revisions now needed to be integrated within the election and electoral registration management software.  Given the time and resources needed to do this, he was now recommending that as there were no elections this year, this work be undertaken in preparation for the annual publication of the electoral register on 1^st December 2008.

The ward members for Harrowby had indicated they welcomed the modifications and the proposals were moved, seconded, and carried following a vote.