Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive setting out the effects of Individual Electoral Registration.

Members were updated on the impact of the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration (IER), the key change being that each member of a household now had to register, rather than one person in a household taking responsibility for registering all eligible at their address as previously. It was also noted that online registration had been introduced and that proactive work had been undertaken to explain the changes, particularly in care homes, to ensure that as many people as possible were registered to vote.

Concern was expressed that the rate of return was 90.72%, which was 6% lower than under the previous arrangements. It was anticipated, however, that by undertaking a 100% canvas each year, this number would increase to the same level or higher than previously.

In relation to the costs of the changes, it was noted that £27,000 government funding had been received to support the process in year 1, but that any budget required for future years had been built into the authority’s base budget.

A Member asked if there was a geographical pattern to areas where numbers registering had reduced. Officers agreed to check and report back.

RESOLVED – progress be noted.