Agenda and minutes

Members were advised that the Chair was running later.  Prior to his arrival the Vice Chair, Councillor Mike Rouse, chaired the meeting.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

Councillor Michael Chalk advised that he had suggested that the scout hut located off Feckenham Road should be used as a polling station in Headless Cross.  Whilst Councillor Chalk was involved with the Redditch Scouts he confirmed that he did not have a pecuniary interest in the matter.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Matters Committee held on Wednesday 11^th September be approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Electoral Services Manager explained that following the previous meeting of the Committee a consultation exercise had been held in respect of the proposed locations for polling stations and the review of polling districts.  Some feedback had been received and this had been recorded in the report for Members’ consideration.

No changes were being proposed to polling district boundaries.  However, Members were invited to consider feedback in respect of potential locations for polling stations and to determine where these should be situated.

In Church Hill, as requested by Members, Officers had investigated the potential to introduce a temporary polling station in the vicinity of Maismore Close and Jersey Close.  Three potential locations had been identified which had been highlighted on a map for Members’ consideration.  One of these locations was not overlooked by houses and there was additional room available in which a temporary polling station could be installed and parking would be available as it would be on the site of a former playground area.  The second site was located on the eastern side of Maisemore Close, but had restricted parking options.  The third option was again located on Maisemore Close but was considered to be less desirable as it was overlooked by houses.

As requested at the previous meeting of the Committee Officers had contacted Abbeywood First School, the current location of the polling station in the area, about the potential for the school to fund a temporary polling station in the area.  No response had been received from the school by the date of the meeting.

Members discussed the position in respect of the polling station currently located at Abbeywood First School. Concerns were raised that the school had not responded in relation to funding a temporary polling station and it was noted that this station would therefore cost the Council £1,500 which would be a budget pressure.  Furthermore, it was noted that at the previous meeting Members had suggested that the polling station would not move if the school was not prepared to fund the costs of the temporary polling station.  However, concerns were also raised about the impact that school closure could have on both students and their parents. 

During consideration of this matter Councillor Bill Hartnett proposed that the polling station in Church Hill polling district CHB should continue to be based in Abbeywood First School.  This proposal was seconded by Councillor Greg Chance.

On being put to the vote the proposal was lost.

Members subsequently agreed that the polling station at Church Hill polling district CHB should move to a portable polling station in the Jersey Close and Maisemore Close vicinity and that Officers should write again to the school to request that the school cover the costs of the temporary polling station.  Officers explained that should the school not agree to provide financial assistance to fund the temporary polling station the costs of this temporary polling station would need to be included as a budget bid in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.