Issue - items at meetings - Review of polling places

Report of the Chief Executive (copy attached).

1)            That the Committee approves the following:

(a)       that the Parish Room, Church of the Sacred Heart, Norton Road be used as a polling place for UY, Central Hove ward.

(b)       that the Refectory Room, Brighton & Hove Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), be used as a polling place for NZ, Goldsmid ward

(c)       that the Ajex Hall be retained as a polling place for NV, Goldsmid ward 

(d)       that a portacabin be used as the polling place for SW, Wish ward, to be sited in Saxon Road or the western side of Aldrington Recreation ground, dependent on the advice of transport planners.

2)            That the Executive Director Finance & Resources  be granted delegated authority to take the measures, as required by law, to bring the changes into effect.

3)            That the Committee delegates to the Executive Director Finance & Resources, following consultation with the Group Leaders and respective ward councillors, the designation of alternative polling places in the event of any polling place in Brighton & Hove not being available.

125.1    The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive in relation to the Partial Review of Polling Places. The report detailed the partial review of polling places within the city. The authority was legally required to undertake a full review of polling districts every five years; the full review, including the wider consultation, was carried out in autumn 2013, and took effect for the European Parliamentary elections in May 2014. Following the full review issues had arisen in three polling places leading to a review in the Central Hove, Goldsmid and Wish wards.

125.2    Councillor Peltzer Dunn thanked Officers for the consideration given to the points raised by Ward Councillors during the consultation, and noted that polling places should be as accessible as possible.

125.3    In response to Councillor Shanks the Chief Executive agreed that the authority should minimise the use of schools as polling stations and this was one of the principles that had underpinned both recent reviews. Councillor Morgan agreed with this position, but noted there was an opportunity to provide education for children and young people in relation to elections and voting.

125.4    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

125.5    RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee approves the following:

(a)       that the Parish Room, Church of the Sacred Heart, Norton Road be used as a polling place for UY, Central Hove ward.

(b)       that the Refectory Room, Brighton & Hove Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), be used as a polling place for NZ, Goldsmid ward

(c)       that the Ajex Hall be retained as a polling place for NV, Goldsmid ward 

(d)       that a portacabin be used as the polling place for SW, Wish ward, to be sited in Saxon Road or the western side of Aldrington Recreation ground, dependent on the advice of transport planners.

2)     That the Executive Director Finance & Resources  be granted delegated authority to take the measures, as required by law, to bring the changes into effect.

3)     That the Committee delegates to the Executive Director Finance & Resources, following consultation with the Group Leaders and respective ward councillors, the designation of alternative polling places in the event of any polling place in Brighton & Hove not being available.