Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of the report is to inform members of the Electoral Commission's assessment of progress with the transition to Individual Electoral Registration and outline the arrangements for the 2015 canvass in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the progress made to date in relation to the transition to Individual Electoral Registration.

Officer contact Steve Callender on telephone number Tel: 0161 474 3184 or alternatively email steve.callender@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Scrutiny Committee of the Electoral Commission's assessment of progress with the transition to Individual Electoral Registration and outlining the arrangements for the 2015 canvass in Stockport.

It was reported that the Government had now confirmed that the transition phase of the introduction of IER would be brought forward from December 2016 to December 2015.  This meant that currently approximately 5000 electors would be deleted from the electoral register on 1 December 2015 when the new electoral register was published unless they reregistered under IER before that date.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was a difficulty in matching information provided by electors with information held by the Department for Work and Pensions.

·         The need to ensure that those residents approaching their eighteenth birthday register to vote including working with the local colleges to encourage students to register.

·         The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the attempts being made to ensure that as many of the ‘carried forward electors’ register under the new arrangements to avoid them being deleted from the electoral register on 1 December 2015.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.