Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hawkes, Read and Swinerd.

The sub Committee noted the appointment of Councillors Jones and Kite as substitutes for Councillors Hawkes and Swinerd respectively.

Councillor Kite declared a personal interest in item 10 as he was a director of Dartford Football club and a governor of Leigh Academy Trust school both of which were being considered as venues for polling places.

The minutes of the Meeting of the Electoral Provisions Sub – Committee held on 27 June 2018 are attached for confirmation.

The minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Provisions Sub – Committee held on 27 June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record of that meeting.

The Chairman will announce if there are any urgent matters for the Sub -Committee to consider and their position on the Agenda.

The Chairman reported that there were no Urgent Items for the Board to consider.

The Chairman will announce if there are any references for the Sub -Committee to consider.

It was noted that there were no references for the Sub - Committee to consider.

The Sub - Committee received a report on the proposed arrangements for a review of polling district and polling places for Dartford required under Section 189C (1) and (2) of the 1983 Representation of the People Act.

The Act requires that the Council divides the Borough into polling districts and designates a polling place for each district, and to keep these arrangements under review.  It was also reported that this process must be started and completed between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 respectively.

As a result of the recently undertaken Local Government Boundary Commission for England review of the local borough ward boundaries and the Community Governance Review of parish boundaries, it is necessary to undertake the review now and that it be completed in time for use at the local elections scheduled for May 2019, so that the arrangements for Local elections remain the same for parliamentary elections.

The Sub-committee supported the suggestion that when the final recommendations are taken to the General Assembly of Council, delegated approval be granted to the Managing Director to approve an alternative polling place in the event that any polling place becomes unavailable or found to be unsuitable in the run up to an election and to make this change on a permanent basis following the election.

The report identified initial proposals for polling districts and polling places, which were to be the subject of public consultation, and highlighted the following amendments to the details set out in the report which were necessary due to recent developments:

Bean & Village Park Ward.

Village Park Polling District. Officers explained the difficulties of this mobile unit and that it may not be able to offer good polling arrangements in the future.  Members raised no objection and agreed that the Arrow Riding School would offer a possible suitable alterative.

Brent Ward.

Livingstone Polling District:  Investigations have identified that other options in the district are not viable and that the Dartford Primary Academy remains the best venue for the polling place.

Grassbanks Polling District.  The use of a building to be identified within the environs of the football ground seem suitable for this new polling district.

Bridge Ward.

Marshes Polling District The issues with car parking was explained to Members and it was agreed that this still offered better polling arrangements.

Burnham Ward.  The polling place for this ward is satisfactory but the size of the electorate may require that the register is split to obviate unnecessary queues.

Ebbsfleet Ward. 

Cherry Orchard Polling District.  The Acting Returning Officer may need to seek an alternative polling place if the existing venue is unable to cope with an ever expanding electorate.  It is possible that the adjoining Community Centre may be suitable.

Black Eagle Polling District.  A new polling place, possibly a mobile unit, will be necessary for this new District, but the Acting Returning Officer may need to seek an alternative polling place possibly outside the District.

Greenhithe Ward.  

Knockhall Polling District. Members agreed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.