Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director, Resources, which set out the outcome of a review of parliamentary polling places and proposed a revised polling district and polling place scheme for Coventry.

The report indicated that Section 18C(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (RPA 1983) placed a duty on all UK local authorities to review their parliamentary polling places within 18 months of a Parliamentary Election.  The Electoral Commission had advised that the formal review process must take place between 1^st October 2013 and 1^st February 2015, and no part of the formal review could be carried out before 1^st October 2013.  In view of this advice, the Cabinet Member (Community Safety and Equalities) Electoral Arrangements Advisory Panel agreed a timetable for the review.  The notice of the review was published on 7^th October 2013.

The Cabinet were advised that the annual audit of electors was currently being conducted, with the revised register being published on 17^th February 2014.  The review needed to be completed in sufficient time to allow the revised register to be published using the revised polling districts, and allowing adequate time to book polling stations for the local and European parliamentary elections in 2014.

The Appendices to the report set out the Draft Revised Polling District and Polling Place Scheme; suggested roads/properties to be moved from one polling district to another; provided maps detailing the suggested polling district boundaries with the future proposed polling district names for the 18 wards; responses to the consultation; and the Acting Returning Officer’s recommendations regarding polling stations together with any comments received from the Ward Councillors

The Cabinet were advised that, since publication of the report, one of the proposed polling places within Bablake Ward had become unavailable.  It was therefore proposed that the revised polling district and polling place scheme be approved subject to the location of a suitable alternative for polling districts Aa and Ac being reported to Council at their meeting on 14^th January 2014, along with a revised location plan.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet recommend that Council consider and approve the revised polling district and polling place scheme, subject to the location of the polling place for polling districts Aa and Ac being amended, the location of which will be provided at their meeting together with a revised plan.