PAPER C

To consider the report on the Polling Places Review

The report is submitted as a result of the meeting of the Resources Select Committee on 8^th May 2002, which requested that a review of all Polling Places within the County Constituency of the Isle of Wight be carried out, with a particular emphasis on accessibility.

BACKGROUND

Considerable focus is now placed upon the ability to ensure that all Polling Places are accessible to all members of the community. Both the Electoral Commission and charities such as SCOPE regularly carry out audits of Polling Places, and publish their findings. Additionally the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 places a Service Provider under an obligation to ensure that all services can be accessed by the disabled, and to effect reasonable permanent adjustments to buildings in order to facilitate disabled access.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Island Futures Theme Three – To Promote The Inclusion Of People With Disabilities In Their Communities with a view to increase voter turnout at local elections from 37% to 39%.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

The full report (as attached) gives full details of all those who have been consulted during the compilation of the report, these include :

           •          Candidates

           •          Polling Station Contacts

           •          Presiding Officers

           •          Poll Clerks

           •          Electors

Where a change of venue is recommended there will be consultation with the local member, Town or Parish Council (were relevant), Community Forum and notices will be placed in conspicuous areas in the locality. Any comments received from this process will be considered before a final decision is made.

Once we have finalised the proposed changes these will need to be approved by the full Council as a list of Polling Places on the Island. It will be from that list that technically the Returning Officer selects the Polling Stations for any given election.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

The implementation of this report is budget neutral, as the majority of the solutions offered will incur no extra costs over and above those already incurred in the hire of premises as a Polling Station. The “Disabled Access” signs required can easily be produced in house using existing equipment, and in those premises that require the installation of a threshold ramp, 50% of the expense is immediately recoverable from the Election Claims Unit, with the balance being sourced from the venue concerned.

We have a duty to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Representation of the People Acts with regard to access to services and the administration of elections.

APPENDICES ATTACHED

County Constituency Of The Isle Of Wight - Polling Places / Stations Review

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

This report is based upon personal visit, and upon the responses obtained from the Questionnaires referred to in the report, as sent to specified stakeholders and printed in Wight Insight.

Contact Point :           Clive Joynes, Electoral Services Officer, ☎ 823341

JOHN LAWSON

Head of Legal and Democratic Services