Agenda item

Report of the Borough Solicitor

The report invites the Committee to comment on the proposed changes to some polling places (Polling Stations) in the Borough after feedback from the last local elections, noting that the final decision on polling place is delegated to the Returning Officer Jenny Rowlands. In addition, the report seeks to update members on the main provisions of the Elections Act 2022.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Solicitor that invited the committee to comment on the proposed changes to some Polling Stations in the borough following feedback from the last local elections, whilst noting that the final decision on polling places was delegated to the Council’s Returning Officer. The report also provided an update on the main provisions of the Elections Act 2022.

The proposed changes to the polling stations with an explanation for the change as set out in the report were discussed. This included that the local Councillors for each of the wards had been consulted about the changes and had agreed to them.  In summary the changes were:

·       Hampstead Town: AA, AB, AC - Move electors in current AB into AA to vote at Burgh House. 

·       West Hampstead:  EA, EB, EC - To revert to the 2019 Review arrangement, cutting EC polling district along the line of the Railway Line. Using Brondesbury Christian Centre for Polling District EC and St James’s Church Hall for Polling District ED.

·       Camden Square: SA, SB - To split Polling District SB into two Polling districts SB and SC along the railway line. This will make two smaller Polling Districts around the two estates.

·       Kings Cross: PA, PB, PC, PD - To put a Porta Cabin with disabled access in the car park of Camden Garden Centre, on the right hand side of the car park. This would be subject to the agreement of the Garden Centre about hire arrangements.  

As a local ward Councillor and member of this committee, Councillor Cotton  raised the issue of the polling station at MA that should be moved to MB. This was  because of the development taking place in that ward, that would make the route for voters much longer if it remained in its current location.  

Action By:  The Borough Solicitor

The provisions of the Election Act 2022 were considered including the assistance to disabled voters, photo identification at polling stations and changes to overseas elector requirements. 

From 2023 electors at polling stations would need to show photographic identification in order to vote. A Photo Authority Certificate was being introduced from January 2023, that could be used as an alternative form of identification at polling stations, particularly by electors who did not have other accepted photo identification documents. The certificates would be administered via a portal and distributed by a third party provider.

The committee was also informed that overseas voter changes would increase the Camden voters that were eligible for this category considerably.                 

Members were provided with the following information in response to their concerns about the requirement for photo identification in order to vote:

·       There would be a programme of assistance for those who needed help with their Photo Authority Certificate applications.

·       Election Offices would be able to provide reprints of the document if needed. The certificates would eventually be available directly from election offices and staff would be on hand to assist with the applications and ensure that electors were supported.

·       There would be a national and local programme of communications about the Photo Authority Certificate in January 2023 and communications about the changes would be developed over the next few months. Any suggestions from Councillors about sharing information locally would be welcomed.

·       Changes to postal votes would mean they would need to be renewed every three years.

·       The recent online canvass of voters had shown a 15% increase in online respondents compared to this time last year. 

The committee was informed that they would be provided with advice on the changes as further information became available.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the Committee’s comments on the proposed changed to polling places outlined in the report be noted and

(ii)            THAT the comments on the changes contained within the Elections Act 2022 be noted.