Appointment of Deputy Electoral Registration Officers
Under Section 52(2) of the 1983 Act, the Council may approve the appointment of Deputy EROs to perform and exercise any of the duties and powers of the ERO.
Due to recent changes in electoral legislation being likely to increase demand for urgent decisions by the ERO, it will be necessary to appoint Deputy EROs to assist with the effective discharge of duties to deliver the forthcoming local elections, and subsequent elections. In order to provide maximum flexibility in respect of such appointments, and to avoid the necessity of bringing further reports to Council whenever such appointments are required, the Council is requested to delegate authority to appoint Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to the Electoral Registration Officer. This delegation mirrors that in respect of the Chief Executive’s role as Returning Officer in that he may appoint Deputies as required.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Council delegates authority to the Electoral Registration Officer to appoint Deputy Electoral Registration Officers, subject to such appointees holding satisfactory qualifications and experience as required.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Council noted that, under Section 8(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Council must appoint an Officer to the position of Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). This position was responsible for maintaining the Electoral Register for the area.
The Chief Executive was the appointed ERO for Guildford Borough Council. Under Section 52(2) of the 1983 Act, the Council may approve the appointment of Deputy EROs to perform and exercise any of the duties and powers of the ERO. Due to recent changes in electoral legislation being likely to increase demand for urgent decisions by the ERO, it would be necessary to appoint Deputy EROs to assist with the effective discharge of duties to deliver the forthcoming local elections, and subsequent elections.
In order to provide maximum flexibility in respect of such appointments, and to avoid the necessity of bringing further reports to Council whenever such appointments were required, the Council was requested to delegate authority to appoint Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to the Electoral Registration Officer. This delegation mirrored that in respect of the Chief Executive’s role as Returning Officer in that he may appoint Deputies as required.
Upon the motion of the Lead Councillor for Planning Development, Legal and Democratic Services, Councillor Tom Hunt, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julia McShane, the Council
RESOLVED: That the Council delegates authority to the Electoral Registration Officer to appoint Deputy Electoral Registration Officers, subject to such appointees holding satisfactory qualifications and experience as required.
Reason:
In order to provide maximum flexibility in respect of such appointments for the purpose of discharging new requirements following changes in electoral law, and to avoid the necessity of bringing further reports to Council whenever such appointments are required.