Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December were submitted for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December 2025 be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Committee considered a report in respect of the review of the Polling Place for Polling District HOD – Wirehill. It was explained that Members had previously considered this matter on 7^th November 2024 (as detailed at Electoral Matters Committee Minute Number 8/24). At this meeting, it was agreed that a consultation be undertaken to ascertain where electors from the polling district would prefer to vote in the future.

Members were informed that following that meeting, a survey letter had been sent out to all households within the polling district. Of the letters that were sent out, there were sixty-seven responses received in total which equated to a response rate of 18.7 per cent. It was noted that thirty-nine of these responses wished to remain voting at Atworth Close, thirteen were content to vote at Grangers Lane and fifteen responses used an absent vote. Members expressed their disappointment that the response rate had been so low.

It was reported that the Returning Officer had considered the electors’ responses and Members were advised that given these responses, the most appropriate way forward seemed to be to site the polling place where the majority of responses from electors had identified. This was to remain voting at Atworth Close.

Members discussed the options going forward and some stated that although Atworth Close had been where the electors indicated would be preferable, it would result in using a portable polling station, which was not ideal and something that the Council tried to avoid. Some Members explained that they thought that the site at Grangers Lane was preferable. However, it was noted that this was also a portable polling station and much further for some electors to access, being further away than the average polling station site within the Borough.

Members were keen to allow all electors the opportunity to vote in elections and did not want to disenfranchise those who wished to take part in the process. However, it seemed clear that there had been a most preferred option identified following the consultation.

It was queried whether there were any access issues if the polling station was located in Atworth Close as the use of a ramp was highlighted within the report. Officers confirmed that there had been no issues highlighted when the site was used previously. Officers stated that whatever was decided by the Committee, this polling place would remain under review depending on any areas of concern highlighted in the future.

On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that

that the Committee note the contents of the report and that the Polling Place for HOD – Wirehill be located at the Atworth Close location.