To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2024.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2024 as a correct record.

The report of the City Solicitor is enclosed.

A report from the City Solicitor was submitted that requested the Committee to make recommendations to the Council on changes to the current Council committee memberships and appointments.

The following changes were recommended.

Appointment of Lead Members

To appoint Councillor Ahmed Ali as Lead Member for Race Men issues.

To appoint Councillors Mumtaz and Amin as Lead Member for Intergenerational Work.

Decisions

1. The Committee recommend Council approve the amendments to committee membership, Lead Members and outside bodies as follows:

2. The Committee recommend the Council to approve the following appointment of Lead Members:

·       Race Men issues: Councillor Ahmed Ali.

·       Intergenerational Work: Councillor Mumtaz and Councillor Amin.

Report of the Chief Executive.

This report outlines the planning and governance arrangements for the implementation of the existing and the final duties of the Elections Act 2022 for Manchester. It also provides an overview of key lessons learned from the May 2024 local and mayoral elections, as well as initial preparation for the upcoming UK Parliamentary General Elections and other electoral administration statutory exercises.

A report of the Chief Executive was submitted that provided an outline the planning, and governance arrangements for the implementation of the existing and the final duties of the Elections Act 2022 for Manchester. The report also gave an overview of key lessons learned from the May 2024 local and mayoral elections, as well as initial preparation for the upcoming UK Parliamentary General Elections and other electoral administration statutory exercises.

Members referred to issues on communications experienced during the count for the GM Mayoral and Local Elections verification process and the need to improve communications and speed of the count process for future elections counts. Reference was made to use of voter ID in polling stations and the checking process and the delays in the delivery of postal votes due to the Royal Mail and any action to be taken and advice to voters on updates to postal votes records in the run up to elections.

Members also thanked staff involved with the election process.

Decision

The Committee noted:

• Ongoing progress to implement existing duties of the Elections Act, particularly Voter ID, accessibility, online absent voting applications, and changes to postal and proxy votes delivered to a polling station.
• The implementation of the final duty of the Elections Act around EU Citizens Voting Rights, as well as implementing likely increased registration of overseas electors for the forthcoming UK Parliamentary General Election.
• Lessons learned from the recent May 2024 local and mayoral combined elections and prepare for the UK Parliamentary General Election.
• The review the effectiveness of elections outreach and engagement activity for the May 2024 elections and further work in delivering the UK Parliamentary General Election.

The impacts of this work on additional duties of the Electoral Services Unit in 2024, including delivering a statutory Polling Districts Review and the Annual Canvass.