Agenda item

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the upcoming elections scheduled for 6th May, 2021.

In presenting the report, Scott Fawcus, Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services, confirmed that the elections scheduled on 6th May, 2021, as detailed in paragraph 6 of the report, were to take place unless the Council was notified otherwise by the Government.  He reported that the elections would be Covid compliant involving social distancing, restrictions on the number of people entering Polling Stations at any one time and the use of PPE by members of staff and electors.  Due to Covid-19, it was expected that there would be an increase in postal vote applications.  The Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services further reported that there was some challenges booking Polling Stations due to some previously used premises now being used as testing and vaccination centres.  It was noted that meetings were taking place with the Council’s Assets Team, to address this issue.  During the next few weeks, the Electoral Services Team would be recruiting staff to work on the elections, the majority of whom would be Council staff.  Jobs would include processing of postal votes, working at Polling Stations and working on the count.  The Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services confirmed that the count for each election would be held at the Doncaster Racecourse.

Discussion followed, during which a Member asked whether the Electoral Services Team had received guidance from the Government with regard to the requirements/practicalities on how the elections would operate, in particular, highlighting the difficulties of obtaining signatories to stand as a candidate and canvassing during lockdown.  The Electoral Services Manager advised that she had recently met with the Cabinet Office, who were working with Ministers on the requirements in relation to the nomination process, campaigning, possible changes to the restrictions, and if the country was still in lockdown at the time of the elections, what the requirements would be. 

In relation to the Mayoral election, clarity was sought whether a political party having a candidate standing in the Mayoral election, would receive a free mail drop for circulation of the candidates booklet to every household. The Electoral Services Manager confirmed that whilst posting out of the booklet was free, the political parties had to pay a contribution towards the costs for the printing of the booklet.  In relation to the Police and Crime Commissioner election, information would be provided on the Police and Crime Commissioners website and Barnsley Council’s website as lead authority and it would be linked from the Electoral Services website.

In response to a question from a Member regarding the date of when candidates would need to obtain the necessary forms for the local elections and the closing date for submission of the forms, it was confirmed that the Electoral Services Team had a timetable of key dates.  It was noted that the receipt of nominations opened on 23rd March, 2021, and the date for the closure of nominations was 4.00pm on 8th April, 2021. The Electoral Services Manager advised that the Electoral Services Team had given earlier notification of the nomination dates for the election this year than previously, due to the number of elections taking place at the same time.  It was expected that there would be a large number of nominations forms to process, given the number of elections being held in the Borough. The Electoral Services Manager informed Members that as soon as confirmed guidance was received from Government regarding nominations, this would be sent out to all Members. Information regarding the key election dates and links to the nomination papers from the Electoral Commission, were also available on the Elections website by accessing the web-link, as outlined in the report. 

Following a further question, the Electoral Services Manager confirmed that following discussions with colleagues at Barnsley Council overseeing the election for the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, it had been agreed that nominations for this election would also open a week earlier on the 23^rd March rather than the last deadline date for the publication of the notice which was 29th March, 2021.  It was noted that the dates for opening nominations would differ slightly across the country.  Furthermore, the Cabinet Office had requested notification from all local authorities regarding notice of election dates, so they were aware when nominations were to commence, in the hope that they were able to let all local authorities know if the election was to proceed, which would also avoid the need for candidates having to incur costs on printing election materials, such as leaflets. The Association of Administrators and the Electoral Commission had also requested Cabinet Office inform Election teams as early as possible if the elections were to be delayed.

Further to a query regarding the venue for the postal vote verification, it was noted that the Mary Woollett Centre was being used as a testing centre for Covid-19.  Therefore an alternative venue would be used, possibly Floor 4 of the Council’s Civic Office building.  In light of the Coronavirus pandemic and the additional pressures being placed on the Council’s services having to deal with concurrent emergencies, such as the recent flooding in the Borough and the added risk of people going to vote with the new variant of Covid-19, Members expressed strong concerns regarding the safety of the public and staff at the election.  In view of this, the Chair sought Members views as to whether they felt that the election should take place at this present time.  Following further discussion, Members raised concerns about the new Covid-19 variants and that candidates would not be able to campaign effectively, in the lead up to the election.  It was also felt that some parties may, against Government advice, deliver leaflets to the public to achieve a political advantage.

Given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty at this time, Members unanimously held the view that unless the infection rate fell dramatically, it was not safe to hold the elections in May, and that a recommendation should be made to Council that, the Chair of Council should write to the Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, and the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government requesting that the elections should be postponed until the Autumn, 2021.

The Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services pointed out that the next meeting of Council was not until the beginning of March, and that a decision on whether the election should be held needed to be made before that Council meeting.  He suggested that the Chief Executive could be asked to write to the Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government expressing this Committee’s views that given the current situation with Covid-19 and for reasons of public safety, the elections should be postponed until a later date. 

An alternative proposal was put forward by a Member that an Extraordinary meeting of Council should be convened prior to the meeting of Council in early March. Given the timescales involved, it was subsequently agreed that the Chief Executive write to the Minister for State for the Constitution and Devolution, and the Secretary of State for Housing, asking that the elections be postponed until the Autumn.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)    the report on the 2021 Elections Update, be received and noted; and

(2)     in light of the current national restrictions in England, the emerging situation around the Covid-19 pandemic and in order to reduce further transmission of the Covid-19 infection, and to ensure the safety and well-being of the public attending polling stations and staff running the elections, preserving the integrity of the democratic process, and being mindful of the additional pressures currently faced by local authorities, the Chief Executive write to the Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting that the Elections scheduled on 6th May, 2021, be postponed until the Autumn of 2021.

CHAIR:                                                                                   DATE: _______________