As a vehement supporter of local government, it is great to see the sector take centre stage. Last Thursday was just such an occasion, when local government, and, indeed, democracy was on show – and the sector messed up, big time.
It is never acceptable for a single voter to be denied the right to vote. Yet the polls had barely closed before reports started to dribble through about counts where voters were denied their democratic rights.
From running out of ballot papers to failing to get everyone through the doors on time, hundreds of people missed out on casting their votes in the most hotly-contested electoral event for decades.
It may only have been a few polling stations among the hundreds across the country, but the impact remains the same – the reputation of local government to deliver has fallen flat on its face, and the whole sector will take the hit.
Whether you blame the antiquated voting system, returning officers trying to cut costs, or even the electorate themselves, the outcome is a truly tremendous balls-up. And with a potential second election just around the corner, confidence in democracy is at an all-time low.
Sheffield City Council chief, John Mothersole, has declined to claim his returning officer fees after the fiasco. While it may be honourable, his declaration also highlighted his £20,000 fees.
It is no wonder then, that so many returning officers hold off retiring until after the elections in a bid to boost their final salary pension schemes with the extra fees. Heaven help us if we go back to the polls again in the autumn – two fees in one year will make a handsome sum for the pensions pot.
In a climate where chief executives already face criticism over their salaries, the scale of their returning officer fees is likely to go down like a lead balloon. The inevitable post-mortem will take place to find out what went wrong, and whether returning officers were to blame or, indeed, if the electorate failed to register to vote on time. Either way, council chiefs will take the hit for incompetence.
