Decision details

The Chief Executive, John Hooton, Head of Electoral Services, John Bailey and Head of Assurance & Business Development, Emily Bowler, presented a report which provided an update on the activities of Barnet’s Electoral Services Team throughout 2019 and 2020 and reported on Barnet’s delivery of the UK Parliamentary general election on 12 December 2019.  The report highlighted the learning that had been taken from each election and offered recommendations to inform the preparations for future elections in the borough. 

The Chief Executive advised the Committee that recommendation 3 on page 82, which related to circulating pre-filled postal vote application forms to every elector that currently does not use a postal vote, was being withdrawn. 

Officers reported that preparations were taking place to deliver a Covid-secure Mayoral and GLA election on 6 May 2020.  Additional staff were being recruited and polling venues were being reviewed to ensure that additional steps could be taken to deliver in-person voting safely. 

Members noted that due to the pandemic, some voters may be reluctant to attend polling stations in-person to vote and highlighted the requirement for postal voting to be promoted to ensure fairness.  Officers reported that postal voting was being promoted in the following ways:

·       Including leaflets in Household Notification Letters;

·       An article in Barnet First;

·       Promotion on social media;

·       Via London Elects who would promote the election London-wide; and

·       Via the Electoral Commission’s national publicity campaign.   

The Head of Electoral Services reported that he had been working as part of a London-wide project looking at delivering the Mayoral and GLA election and this included considering how to make all count venues Covid-secure.  It was noted that the venues had been booked for an extended period of time in case the count took longer than usual.

The Committee noted that the date of the election was being kept under review by Government. 

The Chairman moved the following amendments to the Electoral Services Overview Report – September 2020 attached at Appendix A:

1.     Amend recommendation on 7 (page 84) to add that “In all cases there will be prior consultation with Ward Members.”

2.     Add a new recommendation 9 as follows: “That every effort be made to eradicate duplicate entries on register wherever possible.” 

The Committee noted and agreed the amendment and new recommendation. 

RESOLVED that:

1.     The Committee note the Electoral Services overview report attached at Appendix A.

2.     The Committee note the recommendations detailed in section 4. of the Electoral Services overview report attached at Appendix A subject to:

·       the withdrawal of recommendation 3; and

·       the amendment and addition as detailed above.