Agenda

To consider any questions from members of the public under Procedure Rule 12.

To consider two Motions submitted under Procedure Rule 10 as follows:

MOTION 1

When an opposition party holds a quarter of the Council Member seats, then the Chairs of the, Place scrutiny committee and the People’s scrutiny committee are to be held by the opposition party.

We believe this change to the Council’s Constitution will give further confidence in the Council’s scrutiny process.

Proposed by Councillor Paul Marrow

Seconded by Councillor John Slater

MOTION 2

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council recognises the importance of ensuring that elections are fair and accessible for all voters.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council notes that the Elections Bill is set to bring in major changes to national elections, including the introduction of compulsory photographic ID to vote.

There is no evidence basis to justify the introduction of photographic ID.  Out of over 40 million votes cast at the last General Election there were only a handful of incidents of confirmed voter impersonation.

This Council believes that the change will act as a barrier to people voting and increase inequality in the electoral process.

Council notes with concern that currently 3.5 million people in the UK do not have any form of photographic ID, in the form considered acceptable under these proposals – namely a passport or driving licence – both of which are costly to obtain.

Council notes that these changes are estimated to cost the taxpayer £180 million in administration and will create unnecessary bureaucracy to Councils.

Council believes that at a time when voter turnout is declining, we should be doing all we can to make it easier not harder for people to vote.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council does not wish to see people being turned away at the ballot box because of these changes and resolves to support the #HandsOffOurVote campaign by asking the Chief Executive to write to :

1. Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities;

2. Both local MPs asking them to raise these concerns in Parliament.

Proposed by: Damian Talbot

Seconded by: Dave Smith

To consider any questions received from members under Procedure Rule 11.

To agree the Final version of the Year Planner for 2022/23, the draft of which was submitted to the Policy Council meeting in December.