1.1 To ensure as far as possible that all Island residents have
access to a polling station which is convenient to them and which is fully
accessible to all.
2.
Introduction:
2.1 Between
late 2002 and the middle of 2003 a survey was carried out of all the Polling
Stations currently used on the Isle Of Wight, inviting comments from interested
stakeholders as to the accessibility and overall suitability of the venues then
in use.
2.2
The report detailing the findings of this exercise was
placed before the Resources Select Committee on 25th September, who
endorsed the report and the work completed at that point.
2.3
The Polling Stations currently in use fell into one of three
categories;
·
those which met all required criteria and would continue to
be used
·
those which would benefit from the use of a temporary access
ramp or extra disabled access signage but were otherwise suitable
·
those that did not offer the required levels of access or
suitability but for which obvious alternatives were available
2.4 Full consultation has taken
place with regard to establishing alternative venues for those buildings that
do not meet the required levels of access or suitability.
2.5 This report details the
consultation work undertaken with stakeholders surrounding the use of new
venues, and fully lists the Polling Stations that the Returning Officer intends
to use at the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections on 10th
June, 2004.
3.
Methodology and Consultation:
3.1 Where possible alternative
Polling Stations had been identified, letters were sent to stakeholders
inviting them to comment on the proposals. The groups receiving consultation
letters were:
·
Members of the Isle of Wight Council in affected areas
·
Town and Parish Councils where they exist
·
Community Forums
·
Candidates at Town/Parish and Isle of Wight Council level at
the 2001 elections
3.2 Additionally, members of the
public were invited to comment via an Official Notice in the Isle Of Wight
County Press and a Press Release issued to all local media. This Notice is
reproduced as Appendix C, and gives details of the Polling Districts concerned.
3.3 The results of the
consultation process are detailed in Appendix A, listed by venue.
4. Results of the
Consultation Process:
4.1
Various
levels of feedback on the proposed changes to venues were received from a
number of areas, most noteably Chale and Chillerton.
4.2
In
the case of Chale, the Parish Council objected to the move away from both of
the existing venues, but could offer no alternatives to the Methodist
Schoolroom which has now been closed and sold, or to the WI Hall, which
although it may benefit from improved disabled access in the future, cannot
offer any such form of access at the present time.
4.3
In
Chillerton, similar representations were received from both the Parish Council
and the Community Association, regarding the possible move away from the
village hall to Chillerton Primary School. As a result of this, a further visit
to the Village Hall took place, and it was agreed that a temporary ramp could
be placed on one of the three access routes, and that its effectiveness would
be monitored at the European Parliamentary Elections on June 10th
2004. Retaining this venue would also mean that one less school is affected by
the disruption of a days closure.
5. Recommendations:
5.1 It is recommended that all
of the Polling Districts are designated as Polling Places, and that the list of
Polling Stations adopted by the Returning Officer for those Polling Places
(attached as Appendix B) be noted.
5.3 It should be noted that
Electoral Services do not see this report or the implementation of its
recommendations as the end of the matter. This process is simply the start of
an on-going process of constant review to improve both access to the electoral
system and the quality of the buildings used to deliver that system to the
electorate.
Contact Point: Clive Joynes,
Electoral Services Officer. Tel 823341