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 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.