Data Label: Public

DATA LABEL: PUBLIC

COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

REFERENDUM ON THE UK'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

REPORT BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

A. PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of the report is to advise the Council Executive of the work being carried out to ensure the effective delivery of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, the date of which has now been confirmed as 23 June 2016.

B. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Note the work being done to prepare for the referendum 2. To consider the council’s position and any action which should be taken

C. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS Focusing on our customers' needs I Council Values Providing equality of opportunities Working in partnership

II Policy and Legal (including Representation of the People Act 1983 Strategic Environmental The European Union Referendum Act 2015 Assessment, Equality The Political Parties Elections and Issues, Health or Risk Referendums Act 2000 Assessment) The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016

III Implications for Scheme of Delegations to Officers

IV Impact on performance and performance Indicators

V Relevance to Single Outcome Agreement

VI Resources - (Financial, Staffing and Property)

VII Consideration at PDSP

VIII Other consultations

D. TERMS OF REPORT

D1 Background

The referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union will be held on Thursday 23 June 2016.

This is 7 weeks after the Scottish Parliamentary election, which is on 5 May 2016. Much of the work to deliver the polls will need to take place concurrently which does add an extra level of complexity to the delivery of both polls. However the planning process has considered the potential for the polls to be close together and work continues to be done to ensure the delivery of neither poll is compromised.

D2 The Referendum

The referendum will be a significant event, with a potentially high level of national and international interest in the outcome.

D2.1 Referendum Legislation

The European Union Referendum Act received Royal Assent on 17 December 2015. It makes additions and amendments to the framework set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) to establish a regulatory framework for the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

D2.2 Referendum Question

The referendum question will be:

Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

Remain a member of the European Union

Leave the European Union

PPERA required the Commission to consider the wording of the referendum question, and after considering the question originally proposed in the European Union Referendum Act when it was first introduced as a Bill, they recommended the wording above.

D2.3 Management Structure

The Chair of the Electoral Commission is the Chief Counting Officer (CCO) with responsibility for the management of the referendum.

The CCO has appointed Regional Counting Officers (RCO’s) for each electoral region who will co-ordinate the planning and administration of the poll across that region. In Scotland the RCO is the Chair of the Electoral Management Board

The local government Returning Officer for each local authority in Great Britain will be the Counting Officer (CO) for that area. The CCO has a power of direction over RCOs and COs relating to the discharge of their functions and preparations for the referendum.

D3 Referendum Planning

Following speculation that the referendum was likely to be held in 2016, planning and preparation activities have already been taking place in conjunction with those already taking place for the Scottish Parliamentary election.

D3.1 Polling Scheme and other accommodation

A polling scheme is an essential building block for any poll and the polling places agreed by the Council Executive in January 2016 will be used for the Referendum. The date of the referendum can now be confirmed to all polling places, and other essential accommodation such as the count venue

D3.1 Chief Counting Officer

Liaison has already started with the CCO.

The Electoral Management Board and Electoral Commission held a seminar for Returning Officers in January 2016 primarily on the Scottish Parliamentary election, but it also covered issues relating to the referendum; the Electoral Commission has published Guidance for Returning Officers; and an initial test of the CCO’s count collation system is scheduled for 7 March 2016

There are currently Directions from the CCO in 8 areas  When the notice of referendum is published  Content of and ordering ballot papers  Allocation of voters to polling stations  Date poll cards are despatched  Date postal ballots are despatched  Timing of the count  Method of verification and count  Provision of performance information to the CCO

Arrangements are in place to ensure that all Directions can be met.

D3.2 Awareness Raising

The Awareness Raising Group has considered what the key messages for the referendum might be but will work closely with the Electoral Commission and other partners in the run up to the referendum. The CCO, RCOs and COs all share the duty to encourage participation in the referendum.

D3.3 Contractors and Suppliers

All necessary contracts are in place with suppliers for the referendum. These include postal votes printing and issue, ballot papers, and the Absent Vote Identifier Checking system. Meetings with key contractors have also been arranged where considered appropriate

D3.4 Staffing

Staff being appointed to work at the Scottish Parliamentary election have also been asked about their willingness to work at the referendum and now that the date has been confirmed, they can be asked to confirm their availability.

E. CONCLUSION

The date of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union has been confirmed as Thursday 23 June. The proximity of this date to the date of the Scottish Parliamentary election does present some extra challenges, but the planning process for the delivery of the referendum is already underway, and partners are already engaged in working together.

F. BACKGROUND REFERENCES

None

Appendices/Attachments: None

Contact Person: Caroline Burton; 01506 281651; [email protected]

Name of CMT Member: Graham Hope, Chief Executive,

Date: 01/03/2015

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 1 Linlithgow

LFL1A Chalmers Hall , Main Street, Linlithgow Bridge No change to polling place

LFL1E Linlithgow Primary School , Preston Road, Linlithgow No change to polling place

LFL1F Newton Community Centre , Duddingston Crescent, No change to polling place Newton

LFL1G Philpstoun Community Centre , Main Street, No change to polling place Philpstoun

LFL1C Queen Margaret Hall , Blackness Road, Linlithgow No change to polling place

LFL1D Springfield Primary School , Springfield Road, No change to polling place Linlithgow

LFL1B St Ninian's Craigmailen Parish Church Hall , No change to polling place Longcroft Hall Philip Avenue, Linlithgow

LFL1I Bridgend Village Hall , Bridgend, No change to polling place LVL1H

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh

LVL2D Bridgend Village Hall , Bridgend, No change to polling place

LVL2J Broxburn Primary School , School Road Off West No change to polling place Main Street, Broxburn

LVL2K Broxburn Sports Centre , Church Street, Broxburn No change to polling place

LFL2A Dechmont Memorial Hall , Main Street, Dechmont No change to polling place LVL2B

LVL2C Ecclesmachan Community Hall , Ecclesmachan, No change to polling place

LVL2H Kirkhill Primary School , Rashierig, Broxburn No change to polling place

LVL2I Strathbrock Partnership , West Main Street, No change to polling place Broxburn LVL2E Uphall Community Centre , Strathbrock Place, No change to polling place Uphall

LVL2F Uphall Primary School , Crossgreen Drive, Uphall No change to polling place

LVL2G Uphall South Church Hall , East Main Street, Uphall No change to polling place

LFL2N Winchburgh Community Centre , Craigton Place, No change to polling place LVL2M Winchburgh

LVL2L Winchburgh Primary School , (Nursery Wing) No change to polling place Glendevon Park, Winchburgh

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 3 Livingston North

LVA3B Carmondean Connected , Carmondean Centre, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA3E Carmondean Community Centre , Nether Dechmont No change to polling place Farm, Fells Rigg

LVA3A Livingston Station Community Centre, Main Street, No change to polling place Deans, Livingston

LVA3C Livingston Village Primary School , Kirkton North No change to polling place Road, Livingston

LVA3F Mosswood Community Centre , Knightsridge, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA3G Newyearfield Farm Community Centre , No change to polling place Newyearfield, Livingston

LVA3D Peel Primary School , Garden Place Eliburn East, No change to polling place Livingston

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 4 Livingston South

LVA4I Bankton Mains Pavilion , Bankton Walk Murieston, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA4D Bankton Primary School , Kenilworth Rise Dedridge, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA4J Bellsquarry Village Hall , Calder Road, Bellsquarry No change to polling place

LVA4F Crofthead Farm Community Education Centre , No change to polling place Templar Rise Dedridge, Livingston

LVA4C Dedridge Primary School , Dedridge East, Livingston No change to polling place

LVA4A Harrysmuir Primary School , Willowbank Ladywell, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA4H Murieston Village Hall , Murieston, Livingston No change to polling place

LVA4B St.Andrew's R.C. Primary School Com Wing , No change to polling place Kingsport Avenue Howden, Livingston

LVA4G Williamston Primary School , Bankton Lane No change to polling place Murieston, Livingston

LVA4E Livingston Village Primary School, Kirkton North No change to polling place Road, Livingston

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder

LVA5D Riverside Primary School, Craigshill, Livingston No change to polling place

LVA5H East Calder Primary School , Langton Road, East No change to polling place Calder

LVA5J Kirknewton Village Hall , Main Street, Kirknewton No change to polling place

LVA5C Letham Primary School , Forth Drive Craigshill, No change to polling place Livingston

LVA5I Youth Club Building , Linburn, Wilkieston No change to polling place

LVA5F Mid Calder Institute Hall , Market Street, Mid Calder No change to polling place

LVA5G Mid Calder Primary School , Spottiswoode Gardens, No change to polling place Mid Calder

LVA5B Pumpherston and Uphall Station Community Primary No change to polling place School, Drumshoreland Road, Pumpherston

LVA5A Uphall Station Institute Hall , Marrfield Terrace, No change to polling place Uphall Station

LVA5K West Calder Community Centre , Young Street, No change to polling place West Calder

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley

LVA6G West Calder Community Centre , Young Street, No change to polling place West Calder

LVA6H Parkhead Primary School , Harburn Road, West No change to polling place Calder

LVA6F Addiewell Community Centre , Church Street, No change to polling place Addiewell

LVA6D Woodmuir Primary School, Woodmuir Road, Breich No change to polling place

LVA6A Fauldhouse Salvation Army Hall , BlackFaulds No change to polling place Place, Fauldhouse

LVA6C Fauldhouse Training Centre , Eastfield Road, No change to polling place Fauldhouse

LVA6B St John the Baptist Church Hall , Main Street, No change to polling place Fauldhouse

LVA6E Longridge Primary School (Community Wing) , No change to polling place School Road, Longridge

LVA6J Stoneyburn Community Centre , Main Street, No change to polling place Stoneyburn

Polbeth Village Hall , Polbeth Road, Polbeth No change to polling place LVA6I

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn

LFL7E Brucefield Church Hall , East Main Street, Whitburn No change to polling place

LFL7F Burgh Hall , East Main Street, Whitburn No change to polling place

LFL7G East Whitburn Community Centre , Hen's Nest No change to polling place Road, East Whitburn

LFL7A Greenrigg Primary School , Polkemmet Road, No change to polling place Harthill

LVL7J Murrayfield Primary School , Rowan Street, No change to polling place Blackburn

LFL7H Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Primary School , No change to polling place LVL7I Hopefield Road, Blackburn

LFL7B Whitburn Bowling Club , West Main Street, Whitburn No change to polling place LVL7C

LFL7D Whitburn South Parish Church Hall , Manse Road, No change to polling place Whitburn

LVA7K Seafield Community Centre , Redhouse Road, No change to polling place Seafield

LVA7L Polbeth Village Hall , Polbeth Road, Polbeth No change to polling place

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 8 Bathgate

LFL8D Balbardie Primary School , Torphichen Street, No change to polling place Bathgate

LFL8E Bathgate High Church Hall, Gideon Street, Bathgate No change to polling place

LFL8H Boghall Primary School , Elizabeth Drive, Boghall No change to polling place

LFL8K Simpson Primary School , Wester Inches, Bathgate No change to polling place LVL8G

LFL8A St Columba's Episcopal Church , Glasgow Road, No change to polling place Bathgate

LFL8I St Johns Church Hall , Mid Street, Bathgate No change to polling place LFL8J

LFL8C St Marys Catholic Church Hall , Livery Street, No change to polling place Bathgate

LFL8F St Marys RC Primary School , Whitburn Road, No change to polling place Bathgate

LFL8B Windyknowe Primary School , Windyknowe No change to polling place Crescent, Bathgate

Preparing for Elections: Appendix1 – Scheme of Polling Places and Districts

Polling Polling Proposal District Place

Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge

LFL9H Armadale Bowling Club , South Street, Armadale No change to polling place

LFL9B Armadale Community Centre , North Street, No change to polling place Armadale

LFL9I Armadale Primary School , Academy Street, No change to polling place Armadale

LFL9A Craig Inn Centre , Main Street, Blackridge No change to polling place

LFL9E Methodist Church Hall , East Main Street, Armadale No change to polling place

LFL9G St Anthony's Primary School , South Street, No change to polling place LFL9F Armadale

LFL9D Torphichen Community Centre , Bowyett, No change to polling place Torphichen

LFL9C Westfield Primary School , Lomond View, Westfield No change to polling place