Agenda item

Election of Epping Forest Verderers 2020

Joint report of the Town Clerk & the Director of Open Spaces.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and the Director of Open Spaces on the proposed process for the election of four Verderers in accordance with the Epping Forest Act 1878 by no later than 20 March 2020. The Director of Open Spaces highlighted that the only material changes to the processes from the report considered seven years ago was in relation to the Comptroller’s advice on settling the electoral register and the use of social media to publicise the election.

 

A Member asked for further information on the proposed changes to the process for the 2020 election. Replying to this the Superintendent of Epping Forest confirmed that previously the register of voters was settled by additional Committee meetings, however, it was now proposed that officers undertake this task. It was explained the primary area for consideration regarding the register was instances where multiple occupants were registered for the same land and a single voter would need to be chosen as a representative.

 

RESOLVED-That: -

  1. The timetable for the election of Verderers outlined in this report is approved; and
  2. That it is approved that the number of polling stations be kept at four in the northern parishes and one in the southern parishes, it being left to the discretion of the Town Clerk as to the precise location; and
  3. That authority be delegated to the Town Clerk and the Director of Open Spaces to review the Register of Commoners and carry out all necessary procedural and administrative steps relating to the review and settlement of the Register and the subsequent election of Verderers; and
  4. That delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to approve the draft revised register to be placed on deposit prior to the settling of the Register in its final form; and
  5. That delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk to hear any claims or objections and to settle the final form of the Register; and
  6. That authority be delegated to the Town Clerk to settle the level of remuneration for the ten poll clerks should their services be required (such a fee reflecting the hours of poll and current rates for such work); and
  7. That the cost of the election (anticipated to be in the order of £15,000) which will be met from the Town Clerk’s Elections budget be noted; and
  8. That the proxy vote of each Committee not being exercised for the 2020 election of Verderers be agreed

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