Robert Curtis, Head of Electoral Services, introduced the latest update report on the review of Polling Districts and Polling Places. He set out the background to the review and highlighted that this was a statutory process which had to be completed by the end of January 2020. The final decision would be taken at Council on 15 January.

This update set out the responses received during the consultation exercise and provided options for amending the current arrangements. Responses had been received from the Acting Returning Officer (Will Tuckley), the local Labour Party and local residents.

The Committee discussed a number of issues highlighted including:

·         Responses received following consultation with residents who had mobility and/or accessibility issues.

·         How the number of polling places were calculated against total elector numbers with the November electoral register being used for the moment but that this would be updated for the final report to Council.

·         Porta cabins would have wheelchair access in all cases.

The Committee looked in detail at a number of specific proposals in relation to the number of districts and polling places, as well as the location of some stations. In particular looking at issues in Canary Wharf, Spitalfields & Banglatown and Island Gardens. It was noted that:

·         Some proposals would result in stations having too many electors and so should be rejected.

·         The report set out the proposals received during the consultation phase.

·         Council was free to agree/amend/reject any of the proposals at its meeting on 15 January 2020.

·         When considering the siting of polling stations it was important to think about how residents from across the polling district would be able to access the location. Sometimes there would be no ideal location.

·         Officers were looking at replacing Olga Primary School as the current polling place was on an upper floor which caused accessibility issues.

·         It was noted that schools did not always like being used as polling places but that the government were encouraging the use of public buildings like schools.

Concluding the discussion it was noted that Members should consider the proposed amendments with their groups and could present amendments at the 15 January Council meeting.

Finally it was noted that officers were proposing to review 20% of polling places each year so that the Council would be fully prepared at the time of the next four year review.

Following discussion of the report, Members requested that officers present a paper to a future General Purposes Committee proposing a review of Ward Names within the borough.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a separate report be prepared for the Committee on the process for reviewing the names of the Borough’s Wards.