Article 3 Amounts payable to counting officers

(1)

On an account being submitted to the Electoral Commission by the counting officer within 6 months of the date of the referendum concerned, the Electoral Commission shall, subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), pay the reasonable charges of the counting officer in respect of any services properly rendered or expenses properly incurred by him in connection with a Regional Assembly referendum or a local government referendum.

(2)

The maximum amount payable to a counting officer under paragraph (1) for a Regional Assembly referendum at which the poll in his voting area is not held in combination with any other poll, shall be the aggregate of—

(a)

115 pence per elector on the register of electors, and

(b)

22 pence for each ballot paper returned.

(3)

Where the poll at a Regional Assembly referendum in a counting officer’s voting area is held in combination only with the poll at a local government referendum, the maximum amount payable to a counting officer pursuant to paragraph (1) for those referendums shall be the aggregate of—

(a)

173 pence per elector on the register of electors, and

(b)

22 pence—

(i)

for each ballot paper returned, where the ballot paper used at the Regional Assembly referendum and the local government referendum is a combined ballot paper; or

(ii)

where separate ballot papers are used at the Regional Assembly referendum and the local government referendum, for each ballot paper returned at the poll at which the greater number of ballot papers is returned.

(4)

Where the poll at a Regional Assembly referendum in a counting officer’s voting area is held in combination with a poll pursuant to section 7(1) of the Preparations Act 2003 and which is not a local government referendum, the maximum amount payable to a counting officer pursuant to paragraph (1) for a Regional Assembly referendum and any local government referendum with which it is held in combination in that voting area, shall be the aggregate of—

(a)

58 pence per elector on the register of electors, and

(b)

10 pence—

(i)

for each ballot paper returned, where the ballot paper used at the Regional Assembly referendum and the local government referendum is a combined ballot paper; or

(ii)

(5)

The Electoral Commission may pay more than the maximum amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4), if the Commission is satisfied that—

(a)

the charges made for services properly rendered and expenses properly incurred are of a reasonable amount; and

(b)

it was reasonable for the counting officer concerned to have rendered the services or incurred the expenditure in question.