Local elections
EXCLUSIVE: No pay offer until after local elections
Local government employers will not make a pay offer until after the upcoming local elections in May, The MJ understands.
The new mayors will need the support of Westminster to be successful
'We need to give more attention to the powers and resources mayors have, and those they need – notably more control over fiscal matters – to do the job the country needs them to do', says Andrew Carter.
T’is the season!
The possibility of a UK Parliamentary General Election on 2 May combined with local polls is the plan causing most concern in the electoral sector, says Peter Stanyon.
Voter ID legal challenge launched
A legal challenge has been mounted against the Government over voter ID requirements for elections.
Alarm sounded on cyber threat to local elections
Ministers have written to councils to warn of attempted foreign interference in next year’s elections.
Welsh councils open door to voting reform
Gwynedd Council and Powys CC are to consult on dropping first past the post in favour of single transferable voting.
Minister shrugs off election concerns
Fears that pressures on elections officials will leave them overwhelmed at the next General Election have been dismissed by local government minister Simon Hoare.
Election fears raised with ministers
Concern among council officers was detailed in a new Government-commissioned report on the implementation of voter ID requirements.
Warning of polling day disruption to services
Frontline council services could be disrupted during elections as staff are drafted in to run polling stations and conduct counts, chief executives have warned.
Plea to delay online postal vote applications
Launching online applications for postal and proxy votes later this month should be ‘urgently reconsidered,’ elections officers have said.
Financial sustainability is never about clever financial mechanisms
Instead of waiting until it’s too late, Cornwall Council has stood up the senior officer Financial Review Group whose mandate is to call officers to account for the delivery of budgets within the approved limits, says Tracie Langley.
A clear plan is needed to modernise electoral registration
Millions of missing voters reflect issues in the electoral registration system and we need to develop new approaches that can bring long-term improvements, says Phil Thompson.
Deprived areas saw more voters turned away in May
Areas with more deprivation had a higher proportion of voters turned away at the local elections, with disabled, unemployed and ethnic minorities facing greater problems.
Six ways to lead people in a changing political environment
Gordon McFarlane sets out an approach to help council workforces build the skills needed to navigate new political leaderships and respond quickly to changing priorities.
Political swing points to partnership working
Justin Galliford, Chief Executive Officer of Norse Group, considers the implications of the recent local election results on frontline service delivery, and offers an alternative approach.
A winning campaign
Shokat Lal gives an insight into how Sandwell MBC put together a successful polling day in light of new challenges.
Call to back elections teams
Elections teams will require more backing from their councils to run future polls.
Warning sounded over General Election
Elections experts were united in warning of a struggle to run future polls as they faced questions from MPs.
Uncertainty has made me very certain about the value of some things
East Hampshire's elections revealed a hung council. Chief executive Gill Kneller says 'what stood out was that to navigate the uncertainty, communication is absolutely essential'.
Official figures show thousands deterred by voter ID
About 14,000 people were unable to vote at polling stations in the May elections due to ID requirements while ‘significantly more’ did not even try.