Executive Review of Scale of Election Fees for 2021/22 - Review of Scale of Election Fees for 2021/22 Item no
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Executive
Review of Scale of Election Fees for Item no: 8
2021/22
Report by: John O’ Brien
Date: 19 January 2021
Contact Officer: Christiane Jenkins
Telephone: 0207 934 9540 Email: Christiane.jenkins@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Summary The attached report deals with revisions to the scale of fees and
expenses which can apply for elections in London boroughs in 2021/22.
The report is prepared, as normal, by the London Branch of Electoral
Administrators and is submitted by Ged Curran, Chief Executive of the
London Borough of Merton and Chair of the London Elections
Management Board.
The Executive last considered a report in January 2020 for the level of
fees for 2020/21.
Recommendations The Executive is asked to note and commend the proposed scale of
fees and expenses, as outlined in Appendix 1, as guidance for the
London boroughs, with effect from 1 April 2021.London Councils Executive Review of Scale of Election Fees for 2021/22 Item no: Report by: Ged Curran, London Borough of Merton Job title: Chief Executive, London Borough of Merton Date: Contact Officer: Andrew Robertson, London Borough of Merton Telephone: 0208 545 3409 Email: Andrew.robertson@merton.gov.uk Summary: The attached report deals with revisions to the scale of fees and expenses which can apply for elections in London boroughs in 2021/22. This report has previously been submitted to London Councils Leaders Committee, but is now considered to be more suited to the London Council’s Executive. Recommendations: Members are asked to note and approve the proposed scale of fees and expenses, as outlined in Appendix 1, as guidance for the London boroughs, with effect from 1 April 2021.
Review of Scale of Election Fees for 2021/22
Introduction
1. A review of the scale of election fees, produced by the London Branch of the
Association of Electoral Administrators, is attached as an appendix. London
boroughs were first empowered to fix their own scales of election fees in 1974. It has
previously been the practice of London Councils and its predecessor bodies to
receive a report and recommend a London-wide scale of fees for adoption by
individual boroughs.
Background: GLA Elections 6 May 2021
2. The main elections due to take place during the time period of the 2021/22 scale of
fees are the GLA elections. These elections are currently scheduled for 6 May 2021,
and will be organised against the background of extra challenges posed by Covid.
2.1 The government position currently is that the elections will be going ahead, and that
there will be no changes to primary legislation in relation to delivery of the May 2021
polls. This means that there will not be an all-postal election or any changes to
polling hours. There will also be no change to permit the holding of by-elections prior
to 6 May 2021.
2.2 The Cabinet Office are working with Public Health bodies and others to ensure that
the polls will go ahead on 6 of May 2021 as scheduled, and that they are Covid safe,
including taking forward learning from recent by-elections in Scotland. Amendments
to Regulations are being taken forward to support this as appropriate; for example, in
relation to candidate nomination processes and access to venues. Messaging to
voters regarding the normal requirement to wear face masks being applied to polling
stations will be issued in due course, although poll staff will not be expected to
challenge people in relation to non-compliance with this. There will be no requirement
in relation to test and trace for electoral purposes.
2.3 The GLA are looking at following the Electoral Commission lead in terms of setting
minimum standards in polling stations. This will cover things like levels of PPE
required, sanitiser, signage, floor markings, social distanced queue management,
equipment and venue cleaning regimes etc – it is likely that some Directions will
follow and that those items directed upon will be centrally procured.2.4 ESMs are likely to look for clarity and support from Returning Officers on the use of
schools as polling stations within each borough.
2.5 A survey of over 10,000 election staff across London by ESMs showed willingness to
work on the election at high risk level (akin to current Tiers 3 or 4) was less than
50%. Much reassurance will be needed, and there may be a need for RO’s to
repurpose/actively encourage staff to work in polling stations.
2.6 Additional staff will likely be required in polling stations to ensure queue management
and equipment cleaning regime implemented.
2.7 The expectation is that there will be a significant surge in numbers applying to vote
by post, which is likely to lead to issues around:
o need for extra resource
o potential capacity issues for printers,
o more space and more sessions for the opening of postal votes
o postal opening teams potentially in ‘bubbles’ (to inc same for
candidates/agents) to build in some resilience
2.8 A public opinion survey carried out in Scotland found that polling stations are still the
preferred option for most, as long as they are safe (77%, compared to 16%
disagreeing). 23% of those who would generally vote in person would prefer to vote
by post, however, which was effectively a doubling of the number of postal voters in
Scotland
2.9 Venues for the E-count have been rebooked with additional days for contingency,
however, there is currently no intention to change the start time of 8am.
2.10 GLA and e-count contractors are drawing up plans for impact of Covid on e-count
including staffing numbers, set up, etc with more to follow in due course.
Review of Scale of Fees for elections
3. This report proposes the scale of fees and expenses that will take effect on 1 April
2021. Members agreed to adopt the thorough revision in fees that was recommended
in 1990 and to revise the fees annually thereafter. The established practice has been
to revise all fees and expenses (where not stated as “actual and necessary cost”) in
accordance with the previous year’s local government pay increases.4. In light of the challenges listed above, and to strike a balance between the 2.75%
increase in the local government pay award for 2020/21 and the 1% inflation uplift in
the MRA being offered by the GLA, it is proposed that as per 2020/21:
• Part A fees are increased by 2 per cent for the twelve months commencing 1
April 2021. These are the fees received by Returning Officers and Deputy
Returning Officers.
• Part B fees are increased by 2 per cent for the twelve months commencing 1
April 2021. These are the fees paid to Presiding Officers, Poll Clerks and
others engaged on the election.
5. It is proposed that the scale should continue to form the basis for fees and expenses
for referendums under the Local Government Act 2000 and any subsequent London
borough mayoral elections. The further scale is to cater for any combined London
borough and mayoral elections. It is proposed that the formula – where its use is
appropriate – remains as a 20% increase when a combination is required. This
formula was reduced from 25% in 2010 to bring it into line with the government
costing assumptions for combined polls.
6. In Part B of the scale, most fees are shown as hourly rates to cater for any staff
working only part of the day and any elections and referendums using non-standard
polling times.
7. The Maximum Recoverable Amounts (MRAs) for the services and expenses required
to conduct polls no longer come with a list of assumptions upon which the sum is
based. This makes the long-standing London Scale of fees and expenses an ever
more important guide upon which most, if not all, London borough’s base their poll,
count and postal vote staff fees. Therefore, it is recommended that the fees and
expenses as set out in Appendix 1, which have been in place and successfully
underpinned the planning and budget assumptions for London Boroughs Returning
Officers since 1990, are agreed.
Recommendation
8. The London Councils Executive is recommended to agree the attached Scale of
Returning Officers’ Fees and Expenses as guidance for the London boroughs.Appendices 9. Appendix 1: Proposed Scale of Election Fees 2021/22 Financial Implications for London Councils Executive 10. There are no financial implications arising from this report. Legal Implications for London Councils Executive 11. There are no legal implications arising from this report. Equalities Implications for London Councils Executive 12. There are no equalities implications arising from this report.
Item 8 Appendix 1
Scale of Returning Officers’/Counting Officers’ Fees and Expenses 2021/22
London Borough Council Elections, Referendums and Mayoral Elections
PART A - FEES
Existing 2020/21 Proposed 2021/22 Combined 2021/22
I In a contested election:
For conducting the election and generally performing the duties
1 which a returning officer/counting officer is required to perform under
For each ward not exceeding five 239.70 244.49 293.39
For each additional ward 48.27 49.23 59.08
In addition, if the number of registered local government electors in a
ward on the fifth day before the election exceeds 2,000 there shall
be paid:
For every 1,000 electors or fraction thereof over 2,000 in each ward 24.64 25.14 30.16
For services in connection with the issue and receipt of the ballot
2 papers of persons entitled to vote by post:
For the first ward 93.92 95.80 114.96
For each additional ward 29.34 29.92 35.91
In addition, for every 100 postal voters on the final day for
applications in each ward 2.94 3.00 3.60
3 Allowance for poll cards
For the preparation, first revision and the issue of the cards on the
(a)
occasion of an election:
(i) For each ward
66.03 67.36 80.83
For every 500 cards or fraction thereof above 7,000 and up to and
(ii)
including 10,000 for each ward 8.42 8.58 10.30
(iii) For every 500 cards or fraction thereof above 10,000 for each ward
3.70 3.78 4.53
(b) For each revision after the first prior to the issue of the cards:
32.90 33.55 40.26
For each wardExisting 2019/20 Proposed 2020/21 Combined 2020/21
For a person appointed by the returning officer/counting officer to
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discharge his/her functions under the Representation of the People
For each ward 129.30 131.88 158.26
II In an uncontested election
For the services specified in paragraph I (1) of this part of the
Schedule:
For each ward 160.72 163.94 196.72
PART B - EXPENSES
Existing 2019/20 Proposed 2020/21 Combined 2020/21
In no case shall a charge exceed the sum actually and necessarily paid or
payable by the returning officer/counting officer. Subject thereto the charges
shall be as follow:-
1 Presiding Officer
For the presiding officer at each polling station open the normal
(a) statutory hours of 7 am until 10 pm other than a Saturday, Sunday or
public holiday, not exceeding 338.90 345.67 414.81
For a presiding officer for each hour of opening at a polling station
(b)
where opening hours vary from the normal hours, not exceeding 22.55 23.00 27.60
For a presiding officer for each hour of opening at a polling station
(c)
open on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, not exceeding 33.85 34.53 41.44
In addition, a further sum may be paid to the senior presiding officer
(d) at the polling place (whether including one or more polling stations)
who acts as overall presiding officer, not exceeding 21.23 21.65 25.98
In addition, a further sum may be paid to the presiding officer who
(e) acts as overall presiding officer at a polling place to which there are
assigned not less then 3,000 voters (excluding absent voters other
than those for whom proxies have been appointed), not exceeding 20.90 21.32 25.58
2 Poll Clerk
For each poll clerk at a polling station open the normal statutory
(a)
hours of 7 am until 10 pm other than a Saturday, Sunday or public 229.06 233.64 280.37
For a poll clerk for each hour of duty at a polling station open other
(b)
than Saturday, Sunday or public holiday if not 7 am to 10 pm, not 15.28 15.59 18.70
For a poll clerk for each hour of duty at a polling station open on a
(c) Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, not exceeding 22.82 23.27 27.93Existing 2019/20 Proposed 2020/21 Combined 2020/21
3 Polling Station Inspector
For each person appointed as a polling station inspector or visiting
(a) officer if appointed for the normal statutory hours of 7 am until 10 pm
other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, not exceeding 360.12 367.32 440.79
For a polling station inspector or visiting officer for each hour of duty
(b) on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday if not 7 am to 10 pm, not
exceeding 23.98 24.46 29.35
(c) For a polling station inspector or visiting officer for each hour of duty
on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, not exceeding 36.03 36.75 44.10
4 Postal Votes:
For the remuneration of persons employed in issuing and receiving
the ballot papers of persons entitled to vote by post:
For every 100 persons or fraction thereof of persons entitled to vote
(a)
by post, for each ward 111.27 113.50 136.20
For the person or persons appointed to manage the processes for
(b)
the issue or receipt of postal votes, for each ward, not exceeding 115.67 117.98 141.58
5 Count Staff
For each person appointed as a count assistant in connection with
(a)
the verification and counting of the votes:
For each hour or part thereof at a night-time verification or count,
(i)
not exceeding 28.40 28.96 34.76
For each hour or part thereof at a day-time verification or count, not
(ii)
exceeding 19.69 20.08 24.10
For each hour or part thereof on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday,
(iii)
not exceeding 29.53 30.12 36.14
(b) For each person appointed to act as count supervisor:
For each hour or part thereof at a night-time verification or count,
(i)
not exceeding 38.79 39.57 47.48
For each hour or part thereof at a day-time verification or count, not
(ii)
exceeding 26.85 27.38 32.86
For each hour or part thereof on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday,
(iii)
not exceeding 40.27 41.08 49.29
(c) For each person appointed to act as a senior count supervisor:
For each hour or part thereof at a night-time verification or count,
(i)
not exceeding 49.30 50.28 60.34
For each hour or part thereof at a day-time verification or count, not
(ii)
exceeding 34.01 34.69 41.62
For each hour or part thereof on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday,
(iii) not exceeding 51.01 52.03 62.44Existing 2019/20 Proposed 2020/21 Combined 2020/21
For clerical and other assistants employed by the returning
officer/counting officer or deputy returning officer for the purposes of
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the election or referendum, excluding charges for employer’s share
of superannuation contributions where payable:
For each ward not exceeding five 1060.95 1,082.17 1,298.61
For each additional ward 210.12 214.32 257.19
In addition, if the number of registered local government electors in a
ward on the fifth day before the election exceeds 2,000 there shall
be paid:
For every 1,000 electors or fraction thereof over 2,000 in each ward 63.62 64.89 77.87
7 Poll Cards
For employment of persons on sorting, checking and other duties in
connection with the issue of poll cards, for every 100 cards or 4.71 5.66
fraction thereof 4.62
8 Training
For the attendance at a training session of each person appointed by
(a) the returning officer/counting officer or deputy returning officer, not
exceeding 34.12 34.80 41.76
For the provision of training any person appointed for the purposes
(b) of the election or referendum, for each training session, not
exceeding 188.79 192.57 231.08
9 Expenses
(a) For travelling expenses incurred by the returning officer/counting
officer in connection with the conduct of the election/referendum Actual and necessary cost
Actual and necessary cost or such fixed sum as shall be settled by each
returning officer/counting officer for appropriate employees in the light of the
(b) For travelling expenses incurred by other staff in connection with the actual and necessary costs on average to be incurred having regard to the
conduct of the election/referendum availability and cost of public or other suitable transport
10 Expenses incurred in printing and providing ballot papers Actual and necessary cost
Expenses incurred in printing and providing notices, documents and
11 devices required in and about the election or referendum and costs
of publishing or purchasing the same Actual and necessary cost
12 Expenses incurred in printing and providing poll cards Actual and necessary cost
13 For hand delivery of poll cards Not greater than the cost of Royal Mail postage
For hand delivery of postal ballot papers to addresses within the
14 London borough of the returning officer/counting officer Not greater than the cost of Royal Mail first class postage
Expenses incurred in the renting of any building or room for the
15 purpose of the election and for expenses of heating, lighting and
cleaning any building or room for such purposes Actual and necessary costExisting 2019/20 Proposed 2020/21 Combined 2020/21
Expenses incurred in adapting and fitting up any building or room for
the purpose of the election (including the provision of voting
16 compartments and any necessary furniture) and restoring it to fit
condition for its normal use Actual and necessary cost
17 Expenses incurred in providing ballot boxes, including repairs Actual and necessary cost
18 Expenses incurred in the conveyance of ballot boxes and ballot Actual and necessary cost or such fixed sum as shall be settled by each
papers to and from polling places returning officer/counting officer
Expenses incurred in the conveyance of furniture, equipment and
19 documents necessary for polling stations and the count Actual and necessary cost
For every stamping instrument required to be purchased, hired,
20 altered or repaired Actual and necessary cost
For general stationery, postage, telephone calls, bank charges,
21 employer’s share of superannuation contributions (where payable)
and miscellaneous expenses Actual and necessary costYou can also read
