Agenda and draft minutes

In the event the fire alarm sounds attendees will be advised to evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit and assemble at the Bottle of Notes opposite MIMA.

The Chair welcomed all those present and advised attendees of the fire evacuation procedure.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The Returning Officer submitted a report for the Committee’s consideration, the purpose of which was to seek approval of minor changes to polling places following a review.

The Returning Officer advised Members this was the first meeting of the Corporate Affairs Committee this municipal year. Members were also advised that the recommendations being sought were time limited.

Members were advised that Section 17 of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a duty on local authorities to ‘carry out and complete’ reviews of polling districts and polling places between 1 October 2013 and 31 January 2015, and thereafter every five years.

The last review in Middlesbrough took place in October/November 2018 with the next review due for completion by 31 January 2025. As an interim review was completed in 2022, Electoral Services considered it appropriate to carry out an additional review following the scheduled combined Police and Crime Commissioner / Tees Valley Mayoral Elections on 2 May 2024. That review was delayed by the short notice UK Parliamentary Election held on 4 July 2024 and as such the intention was to introduce the findings from 1 February 2025.

The result of this review only affected two wards, Ladgate and Beechwood and the changes were required because existing buildings could no longer be used as polling stations.

Members discussed possible solutions for future reviews in 2027 including the use of caretaker buildings in schools that would prevent the school needing to close during elections periods. It was clarified that the Council could compel the use of a school for election purposes but were limited by what the school offered.

A Member commented that the proposals in the report would, essentially, affect by-elections in those areas and queried what would happen if elections were called before the new community facility was completed in Nunthorpe. It was clarified that Chandlers Ridge would continue to be a polling station as normal.

It was discussed that while Mobile stations could be used doing so was usually a last resort.

ORDERED that the Corporate and Affairs Committee approve:

1.      The use of St Chad’s Church as the polling place for polling district GC and Beech Grove Primary School as the polling place for polling district GD in Longlands and Beechwood ward.

2.      The amendments to the polling district boundaries so every elector living north of Ladgate Lane vote at Easterside Community Hub and those living south of Ladgate Lane vote at Marton Manor Primary School, in Ladgate ward.

3.      The combination of polling districts TAM and TBM into a single polling district TAM with a polling place at Nunthorpe Methodist Church on Connaught Road.

4.      Rename the existing TCM polling district to TBM and relocate the polling place from Chandlers Ridge Academy to the new community centre once this opens, in Nunthorpe ward.

None.