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The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2014

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2014, ISBN 9780111110027

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under section 52ZQ(7) of the Local Government Finance Act 2000, for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Local Government, England

Made 2014

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

The Lord President of the Council makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 52ZQ and 113 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992f1.

In accordance with section 52ZQ(6) of that Act, the Lord President of the Council has consulted the Electoral Commission.

In accordance with section 52ZQ(7) of that Act, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1992 c.14. Section 52ZQ was inserted by Schedule 5 to the Localism Act 2011 (c.20). Relevant amendments were made to section 113 by paragraph 52 of Schedule 7 to the Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26) and section 80(4) and (5) of, and paragraph 32 of Schedule 6 to, the Localism Act 2011. The power conferred on the Secretary of State by section 52ZQ was made exercisable concurrently by the Lord President of the Council and the Secretary of State by S.I. 2013/2597.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and application
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  4. 4Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  5. 5Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  6. 6Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  7. 7Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  8. 8Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  9. 9Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  10. 10Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  11. 11Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  12. 12Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  13. 13Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  14. 14Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  15. 15Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  16. 16Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  17. 17Amendments to the 2012 Regulations
  18. Signature
  19. Schedule 1: FORMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACT REFERENDUMS
  20. Form of Postal Voting Statement
  21. Official Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting iFront of card
  22. Back of card
  23. Official Postal Poll Card (to be sent to a voter vFront of card
  24. Back of card
  25. Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointFront of card
  26. Back of card
  27. Official Proxy Postal Poll Card (to be sent to an Front of card
  28. Back of card
  29. Form of directions for the guidance of the voters
  30. Form of Certificate of Employment
  31. Form of declaration to be made by the companion of
  32. Schedule 2APPLICATION, WITH MODIFICATIONS, OF OTHER SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION
  33. Schedule 3: FORMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACT REFERENDUMS COMBINED WITH OTHER POLLS
  34. Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when ther
  35. Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when a re
  36. Form of directions for the guidance of the voters
  37. Form of declaration made by the companion of a vot
  38. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and application

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2014.

(2)

This regulation, and regulations 2 (interpretation) and 3 (relevant register for the purposes of referendum expenditure) come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made.

(3)

The remainder of these Regulations come into force on 6th April 2014.

(4)

These Regulations (other than this regulation and regulations 2 and 3) do not apply for the purposes of a referendum in respect of which the date of the poll specified in the statement published under regulation 4(2), 5(2) or 6(2), as the case may be, of the 2012 Regulations is on or before 21st May 2014.

(5)

Regulation 3 does not apply for the purposes of a referendum in respect of which the referendum period begins on or before the day on which these Regulations are made.

(6)

In paragraph (5) “referendum period” has the meaning given by regulation 2 of the 2012 Regulations.

2Interpretation

In these Regulations “the 2012 Regulations” means the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012f1 and, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a numbered regulation or Schedule is to the regulation or Schedule so numbered in those Regulations.

3Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In regulation 12 (general restriction on referendum expenses), in paragraph (1), for the definition of “the relevant register” substitute—

  • ““the relevant register”, in relation to a referendum, means the register (or registers) or part of the register of local government electors kept in accordance with section 9 of the 1983 Actf1 which has or have effect in the voting area on the day on which the referendum period begins (whether or not the persons to whom the entries relate are entitled to vote in the referendum).”

4Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 3 (the Local Government Finance Act Referendum Rules), make the existing rule 19 (notification of requirement of secrecy) paragraph (1) of that rule and after it insert—

“(2)

In this rule, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees)f1.”

5Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 3, in rule 21 (admission to polling station), after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)

In this rule, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees).”

6Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 3, in rule 26 (voting procedure), after paragraph (5) insert—

“(6)

A voter or proxy who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting shall (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter or proxy accordingly.”

7Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 3, in rule 36 (the count), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)

A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the counting officer or a polling station on or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (3) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”

8Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 3, in the Appendix of Forms, for the forms with the following headings substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 1 to these Regulations—

(a)

Form of Postal Voting Statement;

(b)

Official Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting in person);

(c)

Official Postal Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting by post);

(d)

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person);

(e)

Official Proxy Postal Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting by post);

(f)

Form of directions for the guidance of the voters and proxies in voting;

(g)

Form of Certificate of Employment;

(h)

Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter or proxy with disabilities.

9Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 4 (application, with modifications, of Acts and subordinate legislation), in table 1 (Representation of the People Act 1983), before the entry for section 13B insert—

“

Section 13AB (alteration of registers: interim publication dates)f1

After “election”, in each place, insert “or referendum”

In subsection (5), for the words from “is the last day” to the end, substitute “is the 19th working day before the day of the referendum; and in this subsection “working day” means a day which is not mentioned in regulation 23(2) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012.”

After subsection (8) insert—

“(8A) This section also applies to referendums.”

”

10Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 4, in table 6 (Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001f1)—

(a)

in the appropriate places, insert the entries in the table in Schedule 2 to these Regulations;

(b)

in the entry for regulation 4 (forms)f2, for the words in the first column substitute “Regulation 4(1)(b) (forms) and, in so far as it gives effect to Forms E and K in Schedule 3, regulation 4(2)”;

(c)

in the entry for regulation 56 (closing date for applications)f3, in the second column, opposite that entry, for “(5)” substitute “(5A)”;

(d)

omit the entries for regulations 85 (procedure in relation to postal voting statements) and 85B (postal voting statements: additional personal identifier verification)f4;

(e)

in the entry for regulation 91 (forwarding of documents)f5, in the second column, opposite that entry, for the modification that inserts paragraph (2A) substitute—

“After paragraph (3A) insert—

“(3B)

In the case of a referendum, the documents to be forwarded under paragraphs (1) and (3A)(a) are to be forwarded to the relevant registration officer determined in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act Referendums Rules or the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules.””

11Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5 (the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules), in rule 17 (equipment of polling stations) for paragraph (10), substitute—

“(10)

In every compartment of every polling station there must be exhibited the notice—

“*PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.

*EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.

*[Specify name of council] COUNCIL ELECTION

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

*[Vote for NO MORE THAN … CANDIDATES by putting a cross [X] in the box next to EACH of your choices]

*[Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice].

*ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF LONDON

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

#On the ballot paper for the election of the Mayor, vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your second choice.

*ELECTION OF THE LONDON ASSEMBLY

#On the constituency members ballot paper [(specify colour)] vote for ONE candidate only.

#On the London members ballot paper [(specify colour)] vote for ONE party or individual candidate only.

*REFERENDUM ON COUNCIL TAX INCREASE FOR [specify name of local authority]

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.

*[Specify other] ELECTION/REFERENDUM

([Specify colour] ballot paper)

*[Specify voting instructions in accordance with the legislation governing the election or referendum].

PUT NO OTHER MARK ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT COUNT.

*[PLEASE DO NOT FOLD THE BALLOT PAPERS FOR [specify the election(s) and/or referendum(s) at which the votes are to be counted electronically]. Post them, face downwards, in the [*appropriate] ballot box.]

*Complete or omit as necessary.

#Alternatively, insert such information as the GLRO may decide.”.”

12Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, make the existing rule 20 (notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of polling stations) paragraph (1) of that rule and after it insert—

“(2)

In this rule, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees).”

13Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, make the existing rule 21 (notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of the count) paragraph (1) of that rule and after it insert—

“(2)

In this rule, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees).”

14Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, in rule 23 (admission to polling station), after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)

In this rule, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees).”

15Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, in rule 28 (voting procedure), after paragraph (5) insert—

“(5A)

A voter or proxy who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting shall (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter or proxy accordingly.”

16Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, in rule 38 (the count), after paragraph (7) insert—

“(7A)

A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the relevant returning or counting officer or a polling station on or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (7) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”

17Amendments to the 2012 Regulations

In Schedule 5, in the Appendix of Forms—

(a)

for the forms with the following headings substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 3 to these Regulations—

(i)

Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use where there is a joint issue and receipt of postal ballot papers);

(ii)

Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when a referendum poll is combined with another poll but the postal ballot papers are not combined);

(iii)

Form of directions for the guidance of the voters and proxies in voting;

(iv)

Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter or proxy with disabilities;

(b)

for the forms with the following headings substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 1 to these Regulations—

(i)

Official Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting in person);

(ii)

Official Postal Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting by post);

(iii)

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person);

(iv)

Official Proxy Postal Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting by post);

(v)

Form of Certificate of Employment.

Signature

Signed by authority of the Lord President of the Council

[signature]

Minister of State

Cabinet Office

Date

Form of Postal Voting Statement

PVS (Standalone) council tax referendums created ev 101213_Page_1
PVS (Standalone) council tax referendums created ev 101213_Page_2

Official Poll Card (to be sent to a voter voting iFront of card

(In person) poll card Council tax referendums createdEV111213_Page_1

Back of card

CTpersonp2

Official Postal Poll Card (to be sent to a voter vFront of card

Back of card

CTpostalp2

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointFront of card

(Proxy) poll card council tax referendums created ev 111213_Page_1

Back of card

CTproxyp2

Official Proxy Postal Poll Card (to be sent to an Front of card

Postal Proxy) poll card council tax referendums EV created 111213EV_Page_1

Back of card

Postal Proxy) poll card council tax referendums EV created 111213EV_Page_2

Form of directions for the guidance of the voters

Form of Certificate of Employment

CtCertEmp Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter or proxy with disabilities

Form of declaration to be made by the companion of

council tax Declaration for the Companion of a disabled voter standalone EV 101213_Page_1
council tax Declaration for the Companion of a disabled voter standalone EV 101213_Page_2

Schedule 2APPLICATION, WITH MODIFICATIONS, OF OTHER SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION

ProvisionModification
Regulation 55A (additional requirements for applications for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular election)f1
Regulation 60B (requirement to provide fresh signatures following rejection of a postal voting statement)f2
Regulation 61C (notification of a rejected postal voting statement)f3
Regulation 78A (cancellation of postal ballot papers)f4

In paragraph (1), for “after the final nomination day at a parliamentary or local government election” substitute “during the referendum period in respect of a referendum”.

Omit paragraph (5).

In Schedule 3, Form Kf5

For “Representation of the People Acts” substitute “Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations”.

For “Parliamentary Election” substitute “Local Government Finance Act Referendum”.

Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when ther

CTPVSCombinedjtissueP1
CTPVSCombinedjtissueP2

Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when a re

9864-TSO-Council Tax Referendum PVS Comb sep issue WL 111213_Page_1
PVS (Standalone) council tax referendums created ev 101213_Page_2

Form of directions for the guidance of the voters

CTguidancecombined

Form of declaration made by the companion of a vot

CTcombdecp1
Council tax Declaration for the Companion of a Disabled Voter (Combined) EV 041213_Page_2

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/444) (“the 2012 Regulations”). Their main purpose is to apply, for the purposes of referendums relating to increases in council tax, changes that have been or are to be made to the legislation relating to the administration of parliamentary and local government elections.

Regulation 3 amends the definition of “the relevant register” for the purposes of calculating the limit on referendum expenses. The limit is now to be calculated by reference to the register of local government electors as it has effect at the beginning of the referendum period, rather than as it was after the canvass in the preceding year.

Regulations 4 and 5 amend the Local Government Finance Act Referendums Rules (Schedule 3 to the 2012 Regulations) to enable a community support officer to enter a polling station or a count venue on the same terms as a constable. Regulations 12 to 14 make equivalent changes to the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules (Schedule 5 to the 2012 Regulations).

Regulations 6 and 7 amend the Local Government Finance Act Referendums Rules to allow a voter to vote (or return a postal vote) if he or she is in a polling station or in a queue outside a polling station at 10 p.m. on polling day for the purpose of voting (or returning the postal vote). Regulations 15 and 16 make equivalent changes to the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules.

Regulations 8, 11 and 17 and Schedules 1 and 3 replace various forms and notices used at referendums.

Regulations 9 and 10 and Schedule 2 amend the tables in Schedule 4 to the 2012 Regulations that apply certain elections legislation for the purposes of referendums. The amendments are to take account of amendments made to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c.2) by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c.6) and of amendments made to the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/341) by the Representation of the People (Description of Electoral Registers and Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3198).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because no impact, or no significant impact, on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen, other than that set out in the impact assessments for the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.