URL: https://westmorlandandfurness.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=129

Decision Maker: Council

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Chief Legal and Monitoring Officers report reminded Council that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) must conduct a statutory review of polling places and polling districts every five years. Statutory reviews could commence no earlier than 1st October 2023 and must be completed within 16 months. It must be completed no later than 31 January 2025.   The statutory responsibility for reviewing UK Parliamentary polling districts and places rested with each relevant local authority in Great Britain for so much of any constituency as was situated in its area. The purpose of the report was to advise Members of the consultation outcome following the statutory polling place and polling district review which had been undertaken in November/ December 2024.   The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance reported that a formal review had been held between 13 November and 13 December 2024. Notification of the review and how to participate had been sent to elected representatives, Parish Councils, as well as disability and community groups. A press release had been issued to provide wider notification of the review.   There were 50 responses to the consultation. The (Acting) Returning Officers for the Morecambe and Lunesdale, and Penrith and Solway, constituencies both expressed support for recommendations made in those constituencies. 42 public responses expressed their satisfaction with current arrangements. Comments from these responses tended to emphasise the convenience of community venues in smaller, rural communities. Particularly high responses had been received in favour of polling places from Armathwaite, and Garsdale. Six responses were not satisfied with current arrangements, and those comments had been summarised in the report. No further comments were made about any of the recommendations made in the schedule.   Following the outcome of the consultation, a new schedule of polling districts and polling places was created which was attached at Appendix 1, and included the following changes:   • Polling district EGN to be allocated to Renwick Reading Room, Renwick, Penrith CA10 1JT • Polling district EJI to be allocated to All Saints Church, Calthwaite CA11 9QT • Polling district EJJ to be allocated to The Pot Place, Station Yard, Plumpton CA11 9PA • Polling district EKB to be allocated to The Rooms, Penrith Parish Centre, St. Andrew’s Place, Penrith CA11 7XX • Polling district EKC to be allocated to Penrith Rugby Club, Winters Park, Penrith CA11 8RG • Polling district EMC to be allocated to Lowther Parish Hall, Lowther CA10 2HT • Polling district EMA to be allocated to Eamont Bridge Village Hall, Eamont Bridge CA10 2BX • Polling district EOH to be allocated to The Black Bull Inn, Nateby, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4JP • Polling district SBG to be allocated to Sedgwick Village Hall, Sedgwick, Kendal LA8 0JU.   Cllr Jarvis proposed that recommendation 2.1 be deleted and that “consider” be changed to “approve” in recommendation 2.2.   Cllr Battye asked that the Council to be mindful of the fact in using local schools as polling stations and the impact of the children and their families.   Cllr Jarvis proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Cllr J Brook as amended. The recommendations were then put to a vote, and   RESOLVED, that Council unanimously:   1. Agreed the polling scheme for Westmorland and Furness contained in Appendix 1 to the report;   2. Delegated authority to the Returning Officer following consultation with the Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance to make nonmaterial alterations and consequential amendments following any changes in law or guidance to the polling station scheme prior to the next compulsory statutory review in five years; and   3. Agreed a further review of the polling scheme would be undertaken following the outcome of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England ongoing review.

Date of Decision: January 23, 2025