Technical Notes 2024, Issue 85 - General Election 4th July 2024 (2)

1. This is the second in a series of Technical Notes to update Members on the ongoing planning and arrangements for the upcoming UK Parliamentary election.
    
2. Members will be aware that the Prime Minister has intimated his intention to dissolve Parliament in advance of a General Election on 4th July 2024. 
    
3. Whilst officers have been planning for this election for several months, there are certain tasks that cannot happen until such time as the polling date is known.  In addition, there is other activity which is planned in relation to the polling date e.g. the nomination period, postal vote opening etc.
    
4. Members will appreciate the challenges of a summer election, not least the impact on the availability of staff due to prebooked holidays.  Local schools close on 26th June and many people who would normally be involved in the election have booked trips with their family.
    
5. In addition to the above, June is always a busy time for the core Election Team as it is when the Council’s Placing Request Appeal hearings take place.  This Council regularly receives a disproportionate number of appeals per head of population due mainly to the success of the schools and positive destinations for young people.  Nonetheless, there is a significant amount of work attached to arranging, administering and the dealing with the outcome of these hearings. 
    
6. The statutory nature of Placing Request Appeals is such that they cannot be postponed until after the election.  In any case, delaying these hearings would be unreasonable for those families who are awaiting a determination in terms of making arrangements for uniforms, travel, childcare etc.
    
7. Considering the demands of the Election arrangements and the need to progress with Placing Request Appeals during June, the Chief Executive has liaised with political Group Leaders and a decision has been taken to cancel all governance meetings (including quasi-judicial boards) from the date following dissolution of Parliament.  Parliament is due to be dissolved on 30th May and so the Education Committee scheduled for that date will still proceed.  However, all other meetings thereafter will be cancelled.  This decision is in line with the authority delegated to the Chief Executive by Council at its meeting on 27th April 2023 –

“delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with political Group Leaders, to make any necessary amendments to the Diary in the event of an electoral event at a time other than early May 2024.”

8. Officers are currently considering the business which would otherwise have been submitted to the cancelled meetings.  Where appropriate, information or updates will be issued by Technical Notes over coming weeks.
    
9. Had the Council meeting scheduled for 20th June 2024 proceeded, then one item of business would have been approval of the Council diary for 2024/25.  Accordingly, interim arrangements will be put in place for August.  The Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer will liaise with the Provost to identify a date for a special meeting of Council during August.  This meeting will deal with pressing business and will also propose a diary of meetings for the remainder of the year.
    
10. Similar to the above, it is likely that some of the Council’s quasi-judicial boards will require to meet in August to deal with time sensitive applications etc.  Again, the Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer will liaise with the relevant Conveners with a view to identifying suitable dates.
     
11. If any Member has any questions regarding the election, please contact Karen Donnelly in the first instance.