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Town and Community Council Elections May 2017

Learn about the Returning Officer, Clerk's role, nomination process, qualifications and disqualifications for candidates, election timetable, and campaigning guidelines for Town and Community Council Elections in May 2017.

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Town and Community Council Elections May 2017

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  1. Town and Community CouncilElectionsMay 2017 Debbie Marles Returning Officer

  2. Who’s who • The Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer is Debbie Marles who is responsible for running the election and for maintaining the register of electors and absent voters lists • The Deputy Returning Officer and Deputy Electoral Registration Officer is Victoria Davidson Electoral Registration Office: • Rebecca Light – Electoral Registration Manager (single point of contact for county candidates & agents) • Carole Cutler – Electoral Registration Deputy (single point of contact for town/community candidates & agents)

  3. Overview • The election timetable & key dates • Purdah – pre-election period • The Clerk’s role • Who can stand? • Nominations • Campaigning & Expenditure • Close of nominations • After the poll • Local Government Data Unit – Wales • Q & A

  4. Election Timetable

  5. Election Timetable

  6. Purdah (pre-election period) • Starts Monday 20th March 2017 • Town/Community Councils must comply with restrictions • Do not publish any material which, in whole, or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party • Individual councillors may issue their own statements, letters for media publication in a personal capacity

  7. Town & Community Council - Clerk’s Role • To provide advice to prospective candidates • Display notices relating to elections as provided by the RO • May wish to arrange distribution of nomination papers

  8. Who can stand? Qualifications & Disqualifications • Candidates must satisfy certain criteria on the day they are nominated and on polling day • Similarly there are criteria that disqualify a person from standing as a candidate • Refer to the Electoral Commission for further guidance

  9. Nomination Packs • Nomination packs will be available on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/lge17 OR • Can be obtained by contacting the Electoral Registration office 01446 709345

  10. Nomination procedure • Important that nomination packs are completed correctly & in full • Full responsibility of each candidate not the clerk to ensure nomination is submitted to the RO by deadline • Nomination papers that are incomplete or incorrect will not be accepted as valid • Arrange an informal check of nomination papers with the Electoral Registration team • Each candidate must be nominated on a separate nomination paper

  11. Submitting nomination papers Advise candidates : • To submit their nominations by 4pm – Tuesday 4th April (by hand) • Party candidates will also need to submit, by 4pm – Tuesday 4th April • A certificate of authorisation to the use of a party name/ registered description on the ballot paper • A written request to use one of the party’s emblems on the ballot paper (optional)

  12. Nomination form • Subscribers: - 2 subscribers are required (Town / Community) • Must sign & print their names. Check details of subscribers against electoral register that is valid on 1st March 2017. If they are not on that register they can’t subscribe the nomination • Only ask subscribers to sign after completing the name, address and description fields on the form

  13. Campaigning & Expenditure Advise candidates that: • They can start to campaign as soon as they declare himself / herself to be a candidate • All election publicity must carry an imprint with details of the full name and full postal address of the printer and promoter • The spending limit for Town/ Community council elections per candidate is £740 plus 6p per electorate in the ward. • A record and receipts for any expenses should be kept and each candidate must by law complete and return their election expenses – no reimbursement can be made by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to candidate –it is a record which is available for public inspection

  14. Close of Nominations - Statement of Persons Nominated • The RO is required to publish this statement no later than 4pm on the Wednesday 5th April. • The Clerk will be provided with a copy to display locally. • The statement will also be published on the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s website.

  15. Close of Nominations - Uncontested Elections • If the number of candidates remaining validly nominated after any withdrawals does not exceed the number of Councillors to be elected, will be declared elected. • The Returning Officer will publish an Uncontested Notice. However, people elected in these circumstances do not take office until four days after the day of election. • If there are not enough candidates to fill all the vacancies, elected members, can co-opt other members to fill the remaining vacancies. • If the Town/Community Council fails to exercise the power to co-opt within seven weeks (35 days working days) or if there is no quorum, The Vale of Glamorgan Council may order a fresh election to properly constitute the Town/Community Council.

  16. Close of Poll / Count - Contested Elections • The Returning Officer will give public notice of the results for each Town/Community Council as they become available • The Returning Office will also give notice of the name of each candidate elected to the Town/Community Council Clerk • All Declaration of Results will be available on the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s website and reception. The public notice will show the name of each candidate and of the total number of votes given for each (whether elected or not) together with the number of rejected ballot papers.

  17. After the Election • All Candidates (whether successful or not) MUST submit a Statement of Election Expenses and the candidate Declaration. • Elected candidates must make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office with the Town / Community Clerk and undertake to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

  18. Wales Local Government Survey • All Local Authorities have a duty to conduct a survey of candidates • The Local Government Data Unit Wales will be conducting this on our behalf

  19. Other Clerk Roles • Hold an annual meeting each year in May • Be aware of Electoral and non-electoral offences • Fill casual vacancies either initially by election or if no election called for then by co-option

  20. Contact Information Elections office 01446 729552 (public) 01446 709203 (candidate and agents only) electoralregistration@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Rebecca 01446 709304 rmlight@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Carole 01446 709345 ccutler@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

  21. Future briefing sessions & further information www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/lge17 Clerk’s meeting day • Friday 17th March Candidates and Agents Briefing Sessions:- • Thursday 23rd February @ 2pm (Committee Room 2) • Thursday 23rd February @ 6.30pm (Committee Room 1) • Friday 3rd March @ 9.30am (Council Chamber)

  22. Q & A

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