To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2022.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2022 as a correct record.

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 consider and make recommendations to Council on proposed changes to current memberships.

The following amendments were proposed:

Council Committees:

Appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Committees Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee

To appoint Yacob Yonis as a Co-opted Member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee as new Parent Governor Representative Co-opted Member. The appointment is for a two-year period with effect from 3 February 2023. The appointment is to replace the position previously held by Dr Walid Omara.

Health and Wellbeing Board

The Committee was requested to note and agree changes to the membership and roles of the Health and Wellbeing Board as follows:

·         The Leader of the Council will not chair the Health and Wellbeing Board and will chair the Manchester Partnership Board when it becomes a formal sub-committee of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

·         To agree that the Executive Member (Healthy Manchester and Social Care), to assume the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

·         To appoint the Assistant Executive Member (Healthy Manchester and Social Care) to the Health and Wellbeing Board as a member.

·         To note that Bill McCarthy is the Chair of Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust and will become a member, following the retirement of Rupert Nichols.

·         To note that Tom Hinchcliffe is the permanent Deputy Place Based Lead (Manchester), NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and will become a member.

The membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be as follows:

Decisions

1.    To approve the amendments to committee memberships, as follows:

2.     To appoint Yacob Yonis as a Co-opted Member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee as new Parent Governor Representative Co-opted Member. The appointment is for a two-year period with effect from 3 February 2023.

3.     To note and agree changes to the membership and roles of the Health and Wellbeing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The report of the Chief Executive is enclosed.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive that outlines the planning, and governance arrangements, for the implementation of the Elections Act 2022 in Manchester, with specific focus on voter registrations, polling station accessibility and voter ID requirements.

The report provided details of planned changes to be introduced as detailed in the report appendices (scheduled implementation plan of the provisions of the Election Act, a list of acceptable forms of identification to be able to vote in person and the Local Elections communications approach - national messaging and GM / Manchester communications campaign).  

Decision

The Committee noted the following:

·         The changes passed in the Elections Act 2022 and progress in its implementation in Manchester for the Local Elections 4 May 2023.

·         The communication plan for local residents in Manchester and Greater Manchester with regard to the changes for the May 2023 polls.

Additional changes that will be introduced for polls after the local elections 2023.

The report of the Chief Executive is enclosed.

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

Blackley and Broughton Constituency

·         Crumpsall (polling districts 1CRB, 1CRF)

Manchester Central Constituency

·         Ancoats & Beswick (polling district 2ABE)

·         Hulme (polling districts 2HUB, 2HUF, 2HUG)

·         Piccadilly (polling districts 2PYB, 2PYF)

Manchester Gorton Constituency

·         Gorton & Abbey Hey (polling districts 3GAB, 3GAG)

·         Levenshulme (polling district 3LEB)

·         Longsight (polling districts 3LOB, 3LOD, 3LOF)

·         Whalley Range (polling district 3WRD)

Manchester Withington Constituency

·         Chorlton (polling district 4CLB)

·         Chorlton Park (polling district 4CPA)

·         Didsbury West (polling district 4DWB)

Wythenshawe and Sale East Constituency

·         Baguley (polling district 5BAF)

·         Northenden (polling district 5NOA)

The Committee also received an update report.

Manchester Gorton Constituency

Levenshulme Ward 3LEB – update 

Crowfoot Park Primary School is currently the designated polling place for electors in polling district 3LEB.

It was proposed that the Jain Community Centre on Leedale Street is to be used as the polling place for electors in 3LEB.

Outstanding polling place re-designations

The following polling places need to be re-designated ahead of May’s Local Elections. Ongoing discussions with local ward members are currently taking place regarding the most suitable alternatives.

The elections officer updated the Committee that the proposal of Chorlton Scout Group Hut as a re-designated polling place had been confirmed.

Future re-designations

Once proposals have been developed, it is proposed that these are re-designated by the Chief Executive under delegated powers that allows her to make, where necessary, alterations to the designation of any polling place in consultation with ward members, group leaders and the Chair of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee. It is proposed the same approach applies to any polling place premises which becomes unexpectedly unavailable ahead of May’s Local Elections.

Members thanked officers for their work in preparation of the report. It was requested that following the May 2023 elections, a review of investment in polling stations was completed. The elections officer noted that a Polling District Review was scheduled following the elections and this will link to the Parliamentary Boundary Reviews later in the year.

Decisions

The Committee:

1.    Approved the proposed changes to the current polling place scheme as set out in Sections 4 to 8 of the report.

2.    Considered the update on the current position regarding outstanding re-designations for polling places referred to in the report and approved the proposed changes to the polling place scheme, as set out in the update report submitted.

3.    Agreed that any remaining or subsequent polling place re-designations required ahead of 4 May 2023 elections, which cannot be reported to the Committee on 1 February 2023, shall be made by the Chief Executive under the delegated authority that allows her to make, where necessary, alterations to the designation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.