Agenda item

[To consider the recommendations from the scrutiny review group and the Cabinet’s response thereto]

[Note: The Chair of the scrutiny review group has been invited]

Martyn Sargeant, Head of Democratic Services gave a verbal update on electoral registration in Wolverhampton to be able to take part in the EU Referendum on 23 June 2016. In light of a crash of the Government on line registration system, it was anticipated that the Government would announce that the deadline for voter registration would be extended to midnight 9 June. The deadline for registering for a postal vote would not be affected.

Cllr Andrew Johnson presented the executive response to the findings and recommendations from a scrutiny review into Electoral Registration and Participation. He reported that the scrutiny review report and recommendations were a good start to what is a difficult area to tackle. The vast majority of the recommendations were sensible measures and some were already being implemented.  He suggested that in the coming months the Council would need to consider ways to extend its work with partners such as Wolverhampton University, the Colleges and the NHS to encourage voter registration and participation.  He also reported that it was not clear how recommendation five from the review (Undertake scoping work to determine the feasibility of requiring organisations bidding for council contracts to aid work to increase registration in Wolverhampton as part of the Social Value test, in a way that is not burdensome for organisations) could be practically applied.   Therefore, he was not supportive of that recommendation.

Cllr Johnson also placed on record his thanks to Cllr Paul Singh, Chair of the scrutiny review group and the review group members for their work and the officers and external witnesses who gave their time to give evidence or support the review.

Resolved:

1.     That the report of the scrutiny review of Electoral Registration and Participation including the following recommendations be received and noted:

Recommendation 1: All electors be sent a personalised letter about voting upon reaching the age of 18.

Recommendation 2: Elections / Council should review how we engage with different groups to undertake statutory and non-statutory functions to identify opportunities to promote registration, particularly among those currently under-represented.

Recommendation 3: Work with organisations to encourage clients to register to vote while in triage and/or waiting for a meeting with an adviser.

Recommendation 4: Engage younger people with elections – different job opportunities (e.g. at the count or in polling stations).

Recommendation 5: Undertake scoping work to determine the feasibility of requiring organisations bidding for council contracts to aid work to increase registration in Wolverhampton as part of the Social Value test, in a way that is not burdensome for organisations.

Recommendation 6: Work with local organisations to develop an engagement programme targeting different demographic groups and communities.

Recommendation 7: Develop a programme of engagement with schools, colleges and universities.

Recommendation 8: Provide information about the importance of registering to vote, and how to vote at the citizenship ceremony.

Recommendation 9: Make it clear who is eligible to register and vote at particular elections.

Recommendation 10: Provide information (signpost) to where residents can find out more about the UK political system.

Recommendation 11: Make all information as accessible as possible, such as visually (e.g. infographics) for those that struggle to read/write.

Recommendation 12: Erect posters providing basic information – how to vote, who to contact for more information etc.

Recommendation 13: Actively encourage those producing documents to make the language used (such as manifestos) easy to understand and available in different languages.

Recommendation 14: The council should review the range of communication methods currently used with a view to produce documents for those unable to read/write (such as videos detailing how to vote).

2.     That subject to the executive response to the Review Recommendation 5 being amended to read ‘not accepted’, the Executive response to the review recommendations be approved.

3.     That the Cabinet response be referred to the Scrutiny Board for them to monitor the implementation of the agreed recommendations.