Issue - meetings

By way of a report by the Head of Administration to consider a request for the release of funds for the introduction of changes to various electoral processes which must be in place for the elections 2007.

Approved a budget transfer of £8,000 in 2007/08 and subsequent years towards the cost of changes to the electoral process, subject to further investigations being made into the ongoing maintenance costs and agreed that appropriate representations on the cost of the changes being introduced be made to the Local Government Association and Solace.

By way of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a request for the release of funding for the acquisition of the computer hardware and software equipment required in order to discharge new duties to verify information submitted by postal voters, thereby reducing the risk of personation at elections.

While expressing concern about the broad order cost for the maintenance of the software equipment and the implications of funding the changes, particularly given the restraints on service budgets, the Cabinet recognised that few, if any, alternative courses were available in which to put into place the necessary arrangements for the discharge of this new legislative requirement before the forthcoming District and Town/Parish Council elections in May 2007 and, accordingly, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that a budget transfer of £8,000 in 2007/08 be approved and appropriate financial provision made in subsequent years in respect of the cost of changes to the electoral process as outlined in the report now submitted; and

(b)  that further enquiries be made into the ongoing software maintenance costs and appropriate representations made to the Local Government Association and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.