To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2023.

The report of the City Solicitor is enclosed.

The Committee considered the report of the City Solicitor providing information about the Council’s current appointments to Council Committees. The Committee was invited to review the appointments and make recommendations to Council about the Council’s representatives for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

The following amendments were proposed:

Health and Wellbeing Board

• Remove Bill McCarthy - GMMH to appoint Tony Warne - GMMH • Children and

Young People Scrutiny Committee

• Remove Teacher Representative - Saba Iltaf o Re-appoint Teacher Representative - Laura Smith – (term to run for two years, with effect from 1 December 2023, until 31 November 2025)
• Re-appoint Teacher Representative (Primary Sector) – Laura Smith (term to run to two years, with effect from 1 December 2023 until 31 November 2025)
• Re-appoint Parent Governor Representative – Gary Cleworth (term to run for two years with effect from 3 February 2024, until 2 February 2026)
• Appoint new Parent Governor Representative – Shade Davies to replace Katie McDaid – (term to run from 31 January 2024, for two years until 30 January 2026)

Decisions

The Committee recommend Council approve the amendments to committee appointments as follows:

Health and Wellbeing Board

• Remove Bill McCarthy - GMMH o appoint Tony Warne - GMMH • Children and

Young People Scrutiny Committee

• Remove Teacher Representative - Saba Iltaf o Re-appoint Teacher Representative - Laura Smith – (term to run for two years, with effect from 1 December 2023, until 31 November 2025)
• Re-appoint Teacher Representative (Primary Sector) – Laura Smith (term to run to two years, with effect from 1 December 2023 until 31 November 2025)
• Re-appoint Parent Governor Representative – Gary Cleworth (term to run for two years with effect from 3 February 2024, until 2 February 2026)
• Appoint new Parent Governor Representative – Shade Davies to replace Katie McDaid – (term to run from 31 January 2024, for two years until 30 January 2026).

The report of the Chief Executive is enclosed.

The Committee considered a report of the City Solicitor that proposed changes to the Council’s current scheme of polling places for the following wards:

Blackley and Broughton Constituency (in the future UK Parliamentary election these wards will be within the Blackley and Middleton South constituency) Cheetham (polling district 1CTD)

Moston (polling districts 2MOC / 2 MOJ)

Manchester Central Constituency

Piccadilly (polling district 2PYB / 2PYF)

Manchester Gorton Constituency (in the future UK Parliamentary election these wards will be in the Gorton & Denton constituency)

Burnage (polling district 4BUC)

Longsight (polling districts 3LOB / 3LOD)

Manchester Withington Constituency

Didsbury East (polling districts 4DEJ)

Didsbury West (polling district 4DWA / 4DWB)

Wythenshawe and Sale East Constituency

Sharston (polling district 5SHD)

Woodhouse Park (polling district 5WPB)

The Committee received an update on the proposed polling places with the inclusion of the following:

Manchester Central Constituency

Piccadilly (2PYB / 2BYF)

Manchester Withington Constituency

Didsbury West (4DWA)

The Committee acknowledged the work undertaken by the Election Offices and thanked staff for the comprehensive approach to achieve coverage across the city with accessibility for all voters.    

Decisions

1. That approval be given to the proposed changes to the current polling place scheme as set out in Sections 4 to 8 of the report submitted.

2. That approval be given to the update provided at the meeting on the current position regarding outstanding re-designations for polling places referred to in the report.

3. To agree that any remaining or subsequent polling place re-designations required ahead of 2 May 2024 elections, which are not reported to the Committee on 31 January 2024, shall be made by the Chief Executive under the delegated authority that allows the Chief Executive to make, where necessary, alterations to the designation of any polling place prior to the next full review in consultation with ward councillors, group leaders and the Chair of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee.

The report of the Chief Executive is enclosed.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive that provided an outline of the planning, and governance arrangements for the implementation of existing and new duties within the Elections Act 2022 for Manchester. This includes developing extensive engagement and producing an Elections Outreach Pack.

Decision

The Committee noted the report, in particular:

• The ongoing work to implement promotion of the Voter ID scheme and increased accessibility for elections.

• The implementation and challenges of the second tranche of duties from the Elections Act, including online absent voter registration, changes to the process for overseas voting and changes to proxy and postal votes delivered to a polling station.

• The work of the Electoral Services Unit in developing an Elections Outreach pack and a wider dissemination strategy fully supported by the Council’s Neighbourhood Teams and the Communications Team.

• The plans for a statutory Polling Districts Review and impacts on the Annual Canvass.