Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Service

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet recommend to Council that:-

a)    The submissions made in respect of the review of polling districts and polling places for the borough of Rotherham be noted.

b)    Approval of the adoption of the polling district boundaries as outlined in Appendix 1 and the maps found in Appendix 4 be given.

c)    Approval of the final proposals for polling places as detailed in Appendix 1 to this report is given. 

d)    The Electoral Registration Officer be requested to make the necessary amendments to the polling districts to take effect from publication of the revised register on 1 December 2019.

e)    Power to designate polling places in accordance with section 18B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 is continued to be delegated to the Chief Executive, such power to be exercised only in circumstances where a decision is required at short notice and it is not possible to await a decision of Council.

Further to Minute No. 75 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17^th December, 2018 and Minute No. 133 of Council held on 23^rd January, 2019, consideration was given to the report following the proposed review of polling places.  This involved a public consultation on the current polling scheme and the Returning Officer’s proposals which started on 4th February, 2019 and ended on 26th April, 2019. 

This report, therefore, considered the responses and final proposals for determination, for recommendation to Council.

The new Ward boundaries had been taken into account alongside disability access and the impact on schools. 

Cabinet Members welcomed the report from a Children’s Services point of view in that the number of schools used as polling stations had been reduced.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Council be recommended to note the submissions made in respect of the review of polling districts and polling places for the borough of Rotherham.

(2)  That the adoption of the polling district boundaries as outlined in Appendix 1 and the maps found in Appendix 4 be given be approved.

(3) That the final proposals for polling places as detailed in Appendix 1 to this report be approved.

(4)  That the Electoral Registration Officer be requested to make the necessary amendments to the polling districts to take effect from publication of the revised register on 1st December, 2019.

(5)  That the power to designate polling places in accordance with Section 18B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 continue to be delegated to the Chief Executive, such power to be exercised only in circumstances where a decision is required at short notice and it is not possible to await a decision of Council.