Response A1345219

Response to request for information

Response date

2 June 2021

Request

How many staff did the council have in employment exclusively to work in the elections services team at each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

What was the total budget for the electoral services team in each of the following years?

1. 2016/17
2. 2017/18
3. 2018/19
4. 2019/20
5. 2020/21

Could you please provide me with the estimated or actual amount of money spent by the local authority on each of the following items when administering the a) General Election 2015 b) General Election 2017 c) General Election 2019 d) May 2021 elections?

1. Printing of Postal Votes
2. Distribution of Postal Votes
3. Staff time for manning polling stations including ‘Covid Ambassadors/Information Officers’ to welcome voters
4. Hiring Polling Station Venues
5. Hiring of Count Venues
6. Additional infrastructure to ensure the process was COVID ‘secure’ (e.g. individual pencils, Perspex screens, hand sanitiser)

How many Presiding Officers worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

How many Polling Clerks worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

How much money was spent on training Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks at each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

How many ‘tendered’ ballot papers were issued in your council area for each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

Were all candidates/parties that were properly nominated on the final ballot paper given to voters at the May 2021 round of elections?

Response

How many staff did the council have in employment exclusively to work in the elections services team at each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015 - 4
2. General Election 2017 - 4
3. General Election 2019 - 4
4. May 2021 round of elections - 4

What was the total budget for the electoral services team in each of the following years?

1. 2016/17 - £154,200
2. 2017/18 - £149,200
3. 2018/19 - £318,800
4. 2019/20 - £343,000
5. 2020/21 - £260,700

Could you please provide me with the estimated or actual amount of money spent by the local authority on each of the following items when administering the a) General Election 2015 b) General Election 2017 c) General Election 2019 d) May 2021 elections?

1. Printing of Postal Votes
2. Distribution of Postal Votes
3. Staff time for manning polling stations including ‘Covid Ambassadors/Information Officers’ to welcome voters
4. Hiring Polling Station Venues
5. Hiring of Count Venues
6. Additional infrastructure to ensure the process was COVID ‘secure’ (e.g. individual pencils, Perspex screens, hand sanitiser)

For UK Parliamentary elections held in 2015, 2017 and 2019 the amount of money spent by Rushcliffe Borough Council was zero. UK Parliamentary elections are paid for by the UK Government from the Consolidated Fund, with Returning Officers (ROs) reclaiming all incurred costs that relate to the effective and efficient running of the poll from the Electoral Claims Unit. Please note this excludes registration costs which are the responsibility of the Electoral Registration Officer.

For the costs relating to the 6 May 2021 elections, the Police and Crime Commissioner Election is also paid for from the Consolidated Fund and the amount of money spent by Rushcliffe Borough Council is zero. The costs for the other elections that took place on 6 May 2021 will not be available until accounts have been submitted, which may not be until 10 November 2021. Any further requests for financial information for these polls should not be made until after this date.

How many Presiding Officers worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

1. General Election 2015 - 70
2. General Election 2017 - 70
3. General Election 2019 - 70
4. May 2021 round of elections - 70

How many Polling Clerks worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

1. General Election 2015 - 130
2. General Election 2017 - 126
3. General Election 2019 - 123
4. May 2021 round of elections - 126

How much money was spent on training Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks at each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015 - £9,819.00
2. General Election 2017 - £10,190.80
3. General Election 2019 - £10,514.90
4. May 2021 round of elections - The costs for the elections that took place on 6 May 2021 will not be available until accounts have been submitted, which may not be until 10 November 2021.

How many ‘tendered’ ballot papers were issued in your council area for each of the following elections?

1. General Election 2015
2. General Election 2017
3. General Election 2019
4. May 2021 round of elections

In regards to tendered ballot papers issued at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Parliamentary elections, we are no longer in receipt of the requested information - in line with Rule 57, Schedule 1, Representation of the People Act 1983.

In regards to the elections on 6 May 2021, zero tendered ballot papers were issued.

Were all candidates/parties that were properly nominated on the final ballot paper given to voters at the May 2021 round of elections?

 

All candidates that were properly nominated were on the final ballot papers given to voters at the elections held on 6 May 2021.