Agenda item

The consider the report of the Returning Officer concerning the recommendations for the compulsory Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places.

12.1  The Committee considered the report of the Returning Officer concerning the recommendations for the compulsory Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places.

12.2  The Policy and Governance Manager summarised the report as follows:

·       The review had followed the same process as previous reviews, with increased emphasis on accessibility as required by the Elections Act 2022 and an additional aim of identifying alternative locations for any schools which were currently used as polling stations.

·       A full assessment had been conducted of each existing and proposed polling station and a public consultation had taken place, resulting in valuable input from Gloucestershire Sight Loss Council.

·       No changes were proposed to polling district boundaries, however the Returning Officer proposed to change five polling places, three of which were joint stations and therefore a total of eight polling districts would be affected by the proposed changes; in each case, Ward Councillors had been consulted and those who had responded supported the proposed changes.

·       It had not been possible to provide suitable alternatives for all the schools used as polling districts, however, four of the five proposed venue changes had been moved away from a school or an educational setting.

·       A further interim review would take place after the May 2024 elections to implement any changes required by the Review of the Gloucestershire County Council Division boundaries.

12.3  Councillor Williams welcomed the new venues that moved polling places away from schools as it could be very disruptive to both schools and families when the school had to close for elections.

12.4  General Purposes Committee RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND to Council that:

(1)       The following proposals from the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places Review be approved:

a.      That the polling station BT3 be moved to the Ukrainian Association.

b.      That the polling station E3 and KW3 be moved to Gloucester Old Boys RFC.

c.      That the polling station H1 and H2 be moved to St Philip and St James’ Church.

d.      That the polling station M3 and M4 be moved to The Chapel, Seymour Road.

e.      That the polling station W2 be moved to St Mary’s Congregational Church.

(2)       Where a decision is required at short notice and it is not possible to await a decision of Council, power to designate polling places in accordance with section 18 and 18B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 be delegated to the Managing Director following consultation with Group Leaders and the relevant Ward Councillors.