Issue - meetings

Report of the Electoral Registration Officer

The Electoral Registration Officer introduced the report and first reflected on the elections which were held in May 2021. The combination of four elections led to the generation of 118,000 ballot papers for verification and counting, notwithstanding thecomplications posed by the global pandemic. As a consequence of the latter, some of the venues were not available due to health and safety considerations and in some cases alternative venues for school premises were found, due to the disruption to education.

As the acting Returning Officer for the constituency of Cheltenham, in light of the above, he had requested a review of polling districts, places and stations to comply with the authority’s statutory duty. The formal commentary with regard to existing polling stations and those which may be used in future was detailed at Appendix B of the report.

Further to the closing date he had considered comments received as outlined in Section 2 of the report. He confirmed that those comments had been factored into the final determinations as set out in the recommendations.

The Leader wished to put on record her thanks to the Electoral Registration Officer for the important review which had been undertaken and the changes proposed, which would benefit residents.

In response to a question, the Electoral Registration Officer explained that in the case of Lakeside School in Up Hatherley, parents and voters had requested the church as the alternative polling station venue, despite it not being in the ward.

Members recognised that out-of-area polling stations did occur elsewhere in the borough. Other Members regretted the move away from schools as it provided children the sight of democracy in action. 

The Mayor wished to put on record his thanks to the Electoral Registration Officer and the Elections team for their work in conducting the elections in May 2021.

RESOLVED (unanimously) THAT

The following be approved :

Charlton Park Ward, polling district EB – move the polling station from Leckhampton Baptist Hall, Pilley Lane to Squash Court, Old Patesians Sports and Social Club, Everest Road

Charlton Park Ward –  merge polling district ED with polling district EB

Lansdown Ward, polling district HC – move the polling station from St Gregorys RC School, Knapp Road to The Old Priory Room, St Gregorys RC Church, Clarence Street

Leckhampton Ward, polling district IA – move the polling station from Zion Hall, Pilley Lane to Leckhampton Baptist Hall, Pilley Lane

Leckhampton Ward, polling district IB – retain polling station at Leckhampton Primary School

Leckhampton Ward, polling district IC -  move the polling station from Leckhampton Primary School, Hall Road to The Pavilion, Burrows Field, Moorend Grove

St. Mark’s Ward, polling district OA – retain polling station at Rowanfield Junior School

Up Hatherley Ward, polling district SA -  move the polling station from Lakeside Primary School, Hatherley Road to St Philip and St James Church Centre, Cold Pool Lane