Issue - meetings

Mrs. S. Mould, Electoral Services Manager, referred to the report items enclosed with the Agenda for the meeting which gave details relating to:

(a)       the parish council elections held in May 2011, the results and turnout;

(b)       casual vacancies and the correct procedures for co-option of parish councillors; and

(c)        improvements made to the District Council's website and the provision of specific parish council information.

She stated that, in terms of the administration and procedures which had to be followed, the district and parish council elections, and the 'Alternative Vote' referendum, had been very successful.  She added that the overall turnout at the election was 5% higher than at the previous elections held in 2007.

Mrs. Mould went on to request that the Parish Clerks / Executive Officers in those parishes where elections were uncontested inform her at the earliest possible opportunity of any co-opted Parish Councillors who may be appointed in the future, together with any resignations / retirements from office.  She stated that this would enable the District Council to keep up-to-date with the composition of the Parish Councils.

She also stated that work would soon begin on administering the recharges to the parishes, as soon as all of the invoices had been received from the other parties involved; for example, hire of polling station rooms, printing costs and paperwork, etc.

Mrs. Mould then answered a number of questions on the likely costs involved, stating that it would be difficult to estimate an individual parish councils likely recharge cost for a contested parish election.