Agenda and minutes

Electoral Registration Process Review Working Party - Thursday, 7th July, 2016 7.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent. View directions

Contact: Charles Hungwe

Items
No.	Item
63.	Election of Chairman Minutes: Councillor Campbell proposed, Councillor Connor seconded and Members agreed that Councillor K. Gregory be the Chairman of the Electoral Registration Process Review Working Party. Councillor Gregory in the chair.
64.	Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Ashbee.
65.	Declaration of Interests To receive any declarations of interest. Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest form attached at the back of this agenda. If a Member declares an interest, they should complete that form and hand it to the officer clerking the meeting and then take the prescribed course of action. Minutes: There were no declarations received at the meeting.
66.	Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 76 KB To approve the minutes of the Electoral Registration Process Review TFG meeting held on 11 April 2016, copy attached. Minutes: Councillor Campbell proposed, Councillor Connor seconded and Members agreed the minutes of the previous Electoral Registration Process Review Task & Finish Group to be a correct record of the meeting that was held on 11 April 2016.
67.	Agree the Work Programme for the Electoral Registration Process Review Working Party for 2016/17 PDF 138 KB Additional documents: Annex 1 - Electoral Reg Process Review WP TORs 2016-17 , item 67. PDF 71 KB Annex 2 Work Programme 2016-17 , item 67. PDF 13 KB Minutes: Members requested for an item on ‘current process for increasing voter awareness, registration and participation in the electoral process’ to be added to the agenda and a report be produced by officer for the next meeting of the working party. In response, Tim Howes, Director of Corporate Governance said that officers were going to produce a position statement on the current practice as requested by Members. One Member shared a resident’s concern that the language used on the ballot paper ought to be simpler to help create better understanding of the instructions. However Members were advised that the wording was prescribed by law and is based on plain English and was checked by the Electoral Commission. The sub-group further requested for an update on current voter registration statistics for the district by ward. Member also agreed the terms of reference.