(i) Scrap Voter I.D. Requirement for Local Elections 2023
A motion had been received and set in the Summons in the names of:
Councillors: A. Arif, N Bayley, C Boles, N Boroda, C Cummins, U Farooq, E FitzGerald, N Frith, R Gold, D Green, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, G McGill, C Morris, E Moss, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, I Rizvi, L Smith, T Tariq, S Thorpe, S Walmsley, and M Whitby.
This Council notes:
· With the passage of the Elections Act last April, voters will now have to present identification when they go to vote in person.
· If an eligible voter does not have or cannot present identification, they will be turned away.
· According to government-issued research, 2% of eligible voters have no form of photo ID, and 4% of eligible voters have no form of recognisable ID. For Bury, this means thousands of eligible voters would be at risk of not being able to vote.
· The 344-page legal guidelines setting out how the system will operate were only put before parliament in November 2022 and have only just come into effect, giving election officials minimal time to respond.
· The Association of Electoral Administrators has said it is already concerned about the tightness of timescales and recruiting enough temporary staff for polling stations.
· The Electoral Commission, the official watchdog that will oversee the rollout of voter ID, has said the timetable could affect some eligible voters’ ability to vote in the May 2023 local elections, saying there was a risk of confusion and of valid voters being turned away, which could damage wider confidence in elections.
· The Local Government Association (LGA) has also shared concerns that there is insufficient time ahead of the May 2023 elections to introduce the requirement to show photo ID and are calling for a delay of the process.
This Council resolves to:
· Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing our opposition to the new requirements and calling for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.
· Write to the Members of Parliament for Bury South and Bury North requesting that they also write to the Secretary of State expressing opposition to the new requirements and call for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.
· In the situation where our resolutions are ignored or rejected, to call on the Returning Officer to run a comprehensive voter registration campaign and voter I.D. awareness campaign in the run up to the local elections in May 2023. This would include, but not be limited to:
1. Correspondence to all households about the new requirements
2. Targeted communication to those most likely not to have accepted identification
3. Engagement with schools and colleges encouraging younger people to register to vote
(ii) Withdrawal of Bury Council from the Places for Everyone Plan
A motion has been received and set in the summons in the names of councillors Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Hussain, Jones, Lancaster, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recently made a statement in the house of commons in relation to an update on the levelling up bill.
In this statement the Secretary of State confirmed that he believes that the plan-making process for housing has to start with a number. This number the Secretary of State went on to say should be an advisory starting point, a guide from that is not mandatory.
The Secretary of State further added it will be up to Local Authorities, working with their communities, to determine how many homes can actually be built, taking into account what should be protected in each area-be that our precious green belt or national parks.
The Secretary of State further outlined how those local authorities with local plans at an advanced stage of preparation who will not benefit from these provisions can take advantage of transitional arrangements to produce plans that are compliant with the new guidance. Although this Council is part of the Places for Everyone submission we have no adopted local plan. As such the housing need calculation made within Places for Everyone is now obsolete and not in line with national guidance. As such it is clear that Bury’s local plan must produced in line with the new national guidance. Bearing in mind the clarification outlined in the Secretary of State’s statement in the house of commons;
This council resolves to;
· Withdraw Bury Council from the Places for Everyone Plan as an immediate priority.
· Develop a joint approach to calculating housing need though community consultation and a reinforced brownfield first policy.
· Make a public commitment to protect the Borough’s precious green belt by removing Simister, Walshaw and Elton reservoir sites from any future local plan
Minutes:
(i) Scrap Voter I.D. Requirement for Local Elections 2023
This Council notes:
· With the passage of the Elections Act last April, voters will now have to present identification when they go to vote in person.
· If an eligible voter does not have or cannot present identification, they will be turned away.
· According to government-issued research, 2% of eligible voters have no form of photo ID, and 4% of eligible voters have no form of recognisable ID. For Bury, this means thousands of eligible voters would be at risk of not being able to vote.
· The 344-page legal guidelines setting out how the system will operate were only put before parliament in November 2022 and have only just come into effect, giving election officials minimal time to respond.
· The Association of Electoral Administrators has said it is already concerned about the tightness of timescales and recruiting enough temporary staff for polling stations.
· The Electoral Commission, the official watchdog that will oversee the rollout of voter ID, has said the timetable could affect some eligible voters’ ability to vote in the May 2023 local elections, saying there was a risk of confusion and of valid voters being turned away, which could damage wider confidence in elections.
· The Local Government Association (LGA) has also shared concerns that there is insufficient time ahead of the May 2023 elections to introduce the requirement to show photo ID and are calling for a delay of the process.
This Council resolves to:
· Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing our opposition to the new requirements and calling for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.
· Write to the Members of Parliament for Bury South and Bury North requesting that they also write to the Secretary of State expressing opposition to the new requirements and call for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.
· In the situation where our resolutions are ignored or rejected, to call on the Returning Officer to run a comprehensive voter registration campaign and voter I.D. awareness campaign in the run up to the local elections in May 2023. This would include, but not be limited to:
1. Correspondence to all households about the new requirements
2. Targeted communication to those most likely not to have accepted identification
3. Engagement with schools and colleges encouraging younger people to register to vote
On being put with 29 Members voting for and 13 members voting against and the Mayor, Councillors C Birchmore, M Smith, Duncalfe, Mason, Walsh and Marsden abstaining
The Mayor declared the motion was carried.
(ii) Withdrawal of Bury Council from the Places for Everyone Plan
A motion has been received and set in the summons in the names of councillors Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Hussain, Jones, Lancaster, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recently made a statement in the house of commons in relation to an update on the levelling up bill.
In this statement the Secretary of State confirmed that he believes that the plan-making process for housing has to start with a number. This number the Secretary of State went on to say should be an advisory starting point, a guide from that is not mandatory.
The Secretary of State further added it will be up to Local Authorities, working with their communities, to determine how many homes can actually be built, taking into account what should be protected in each area-be that our precious green belt or national parks.
The Secretary of State further outlined how those local authorities with local plans at an advanced stage of preparation who will not benefit from these provisions can take advantage of transitional arrangements to produce plans that are compliant with the new guidance. Although this Council is part of the Places for Everyone submission we have no adopted local plan. As such the housing need calculation made within Places for Everyone is now obsolete and not in line with national guidance. As such it is clear that Bury’s local plan must produced in line with the new national guidance. Bearing in mind the clarification outlined in the Secretary of State’s statement in the house of commons;
This council resolves to;
In accordance with the Council Constitution, following a request from the Conservative Group for a recorded vote (8 members stood) on being put with
Councillors: S Arif; Bernstein, Birchmore, Booth, Brown, Dean, Duncalfe, Gartside, Harris, Hussain, N Jones, Lancaster, Marsden, Mason, McBriar, Rydeheard, M Smith, Tegolo, Vernon, Walsh, Y Wright voting for;
And Councillors: A Arif, Bayley, Boles, Boroda, Cummins, Donnelly, Farooq, FitzGerald, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Hayes, McGill, Morris, Moss, O’Brien, Peel, Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, Rafiq, Rizvi, L Smith, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley, Whitby voting against and the Mayor abstaining:
The Mayor declared the motion lost.