Agenda item

This report details proposals for changes of some polling places following an interim review of polling places and polling stations.

The Chief Executive and Returning Officer introduced a report detailing proposals for changes of some polling places following an interim review of polling places and stations.

Members were thanked for their engagement with this review, and their comments and feedback were noted in appendices 1 and 2 of the report. There were 11 proposed changes, with one, GHC1 in Grantham Harrowby Ward, not being supported by the local ward member.

The report was proposed and seconded to allow for the start of debate. There was then a proposed amendment to the printed motion 8 by Councillor Ian Selby:

“The Central Place Communal Room be retained as the polling place for GHC1 Grantham Harrowby Ward.”

The amendment was seconded.

In debating the amendment, the following points were raised:

·       There were no issues with moving polling place GHA1 from Canterbury Close to the Church of Ascension Hall. The contention was that Central Place should remain as an additional polling station.

·       If Central Place were to be removed some voters would have to cross the busy Harrowby Lane in order to visit their polling station.

·       Councillor Selby had a good working knowledge of the Harrowby Ward and his views were taken into account when writing the report; they were also included at Appendix 1 of the report.

·       All actions to increase voter turnout should be taken.

·       The Church of Ascension Hall was used as a polling station in May 2021 as the Central Place Communal Room was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Communal Room was housed within one of the Council’s housing blocks. Officers had been to both sites to make a full assessment; the Church was a ten-minute walking from the existing polling station, and voter numbers were not affected at the May 2021 election.

·       The Presiding Officer and Poll Clerks at the polling station on election day would need to provide a private space for members of the public to satisfy the requirements of Voter ID, this would be accommodated at the Church of the Ascension Hall.

Prior to voting on this amendment, a point of order was raised about the mover of the original motion being able to speak on an amendment. The Monitoring Officer quoted paragraph 14.18 of the Council Procedure Rules “if an amendment is moved, the mover of the original motion has the right of reply at the close of the debate on the amendment but may not otherwise speak on it.”

A request had been made that a recorded vote on the amendment be taken, as in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5 any ten Councillors present at the meeting of Full Council could request this.

For:              Councillors Ashley Baxter, Harrish Bisnauthsing, Pam Bosworth, Bob Broughton, Louise Clack, Phil Dilks, Paul Fellows, Anna Kelly, Jane Kingman, Philip Knowles, Penny Milnes, Virginia Moran, Charmaine Morgan, Ian Selby, Lee Steptoe, Hilary Westropp, Amanda Wheeler, Jane Wood, Paul Wood. (19)

Against:        Councillors David Bellamy, George Chivers, Kelham Cooke, John Cottier, Helen Crawford, Richard Dixon-Warren, Barry Dobson, Ben Green, Breda-Rae Griffin, Graham Jeal, Gloria Johnson, Annie Mason, Julia Reid, Robert Reid, Nick Robins, Penny Robins, Susan Sandall, Adam Stokes, Sarah Trotter, Hannah Westropp, Mark Whittington, Sue Woolley, Linda Wootten, Ray Wootten. (24)

Abstain:        Councillors Richard Cleaver and Murray Turner. (2)

The amendment to the motion fell.

There was a further amendment to the substantive motion proposed, to add in a further recommendation that:

“The Council supports a change in polling district DJB3 from Deeping St. James Primary School to the Methodist Church”.

The amendment was seconded.

In debating the amendment, the following points were raised:

·       One member agreed with the comments in the report of Councillor Stevens that the Methodist Church was less disruptive than holding an election at the school.

·       The comments of the Returning Officer in the report about the school being more centrally situated were correct, but it could be argued that both stations were relatively central to Deeping St.James.

·       Schools used their time for inset days when allowing their space to be used for elections. If the school did not want to take an inset day, then officers of the Council would work with that school to be absolutely certain that there were no safeguarding issues.

·       Some members indicated a preference to not use schools when there was a viable alternative.

On being taken to the vote, members did not support the amendment and therefore it was LOST.

Debate then ensued on the original motion:

·       Officers were thanked for listening to the concerns of ward members in Grantham St. Vincent’s ward, and as a result no changes were proposed there.

·       There were a variety of fees to pay for the use of polling stations. If the stations were publicly funded, then only the use of utilities and caretaking costs needed to be covered.

·       Several members expressed a negative reaction to the requirement for voters to provide ID at the upcoming elections.

Having been proposed and seconded, upon being put to the vote the motion was AGREED:

DECISION:

That the Council:

1.    Approves the proposals setting out changes to polling places as set out in Appendix 1:

i.            St Andrew’s Church replaces The Welby Arms as the polling place for BLA1 Denton and BLD1 Wyville-cum-Hungerton in the Belvoir Ward.

ii.          Bourne Corn Exchange replaces Meadow Close Communal Room as the polling place for BNK1 Bourne East Ward.

iii.         Bourne Corn Exchange replaces Twenty Village Hall as the polling place for BNM1 Bourne East Ward.

iv.         Grantham and District Indoor Bowling Club replaces Poplar Farm School as the polling place for GBA1 Grantham Barrowby Gate ward and that a letter be sent to the occupiers of all properties within this polling district to advise of the change of polling place in advance of the elections taking place in May 2023.

v.          Grantham and District Indoor Bowling Club replaces the Table Tennis Centre as the polling place for GBB1 Grantham Barrowby Gate Ward.

vi.         Grantham West Community Centre replaces the Table Tennis Centre as the polling place for GEA1 Grantham Earlesfield Ward.

vii.       The Church of the Ascension Hall replaces the Canterbury Close Communal Room as the polling place for GHA1 Grantham Harrowby Ward.

viii.      The Church of the Ascension Hall replaces the Central Place Communal Room as the polling place for GHC1 Grantham Harrowby Ward.

ix.         The Bethesda Evangelical Church replaces the Walton Academy as the polling place for GSC1 Grantham Springfield Ward.

x.          South Witham Village Hall replaces the Children’s Centre as the polling place for INH1 South Witham in the Isaac Newton Ward.

xi.         St John’s Church Community Hall, Manthorpe replaces the Manthorpe Playgroup Hall as the polling place for PCC2 Belton and Manthorpe in the Peascliffe and Ridgeway Ward.