That Cabinet recommends to Council:

1.      that the revised polling district and polling station scheme, as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved; and

2.      that delegation be given to the Returning Officer to make any amendments to the scheme which may be required to facilitate the running of elections.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Council has a duty to conduct a review of its Parliamentary polling districts, polling places and polling stations at least once every five years.

The options considered were:

·         Consider the Returning Officer’s recommendations for polling districts, polling places and polling stations – the preferred option.

·         Identify alternative polling places and polling stations – this option was not recommended as alternative venues need to be fully assessed for accessibly and suitability.

The Cabinet’s recommendation will be considered at the Council meeting on 5 December 2024.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, Torbay Council (“the Council”) has a duty to divide its area into polling districts and to designate a polling place for each district.  The Electoral Administration Act 2006, as amended, introduced a duty on all local authorities in Great Britain to review their polling districts and polling places at least once every five years.  The Council’s compulsory review must be undertaken within a 16-month window between 1 October 2023 and 31 January 2025.  Whilst there were minimal changes to the existing scheme, changes had been made to existing polling stations as a result of consultation feedback, where they were no longer available, or a more suitable location had been identified.

At the meeting Councillor Jackie Thomas proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

None