Media Guide for the Count at Braehead Arena Scottish
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Scottish Parliamentary Election Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May 2021 Media Guide for the Count at Braehead Arena www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/SPElection2021 1 Welcome This media guide is designed to provide you with everything you need to know about the Count at Braehead Arena, the facilities and arrangements in place to enable you to cover the Count safely, including what to expect when you arrive. The arrangements for the Count will feel different to previous elections with additional Covid-19 health and safety measures in place to keep everyone safe, reduce the risk of spreading the virus and protect the integrity of the Election. It is vitally important you do not attend the Count if you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19: a persistent, continuous cough, a high temperature; or a change in your sense of taste or smell, or if you are a confirmed contact of someone who is self-isolating. If you are unwell, you must self-isolate at home and book a test. If you are well, you do not require a test before attending the Count. Covid Safety Officers will be in place at the Count to support you to facilitate safe access and exit from the Arena and enable you to follow the enhanced health and safety measures in place. These measures are in place to protect you and everyone who is involved in running the Count. Dates and location Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May 2021 Braehead Arena, Braehead, 25 King’s Inch Road, Glasgow G51 4BN Media contact Renfrewshire Council Corporate Communications team manage all media arrangements for the Count at Braehead Arena. Head of Marketing, Communications and Events, Louisa Mahon is the Team Lead, supported by Corporate Communications Manager, Lucy Adamson. At the Count, members of our team will be available to facilitate interview requests with candidates and confirm election information. Lucy Adamson 07899 061 033 David Christie 07970 661 965 Graeme Crawford 07817 063 593 Out of hours, any urgent queries can be directed to our Duty Communications Officer via 07535 520 071. In advance, please direct any election preparation and accreditation queries to Graeme Crawford by email to [email protected]. 2 Accreditation Due to the Covid-19 additional health and safety measures, there are limited spaces for accredited media and we are unfortunately unable to facilitate photographers. A Count photographer (Kieran Chambers) will provide pool photography at various times throughout the day. Any media wishing to attend the election must arrange accreditation in advance by contacting Graeme Crawford by email to [email protected]. Accreditation will not be possible on the day and if you wish to change your accreditation, this must be arranged in advance. Your accredited Count ID badge will be available for collection at the Arena Count registration desks. Bring a suitable form of ID (passport/driving licence/NUJ card) with you to the Count to receive your ID badge. Arrival and registration Free parking is available at Braehead Arena and Braehead Shopping Centre and you are advised to park in the Green car park at the Marks and Spencer end of the shopping centre. Parking for broadcast vans must be arranged in advance as part of the accreditation process. Accredited media can access the Count from 8.30am on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May. Separate arrangements have been made directly with broadcasters. On arrival, make your way to the registration desks located at the ground floor entrance to Braehead Arena (accessible via the shopping centre and next to Costa). This is clearly marked with signage to direct you. Remember to bring suitable identification with your name, such as your passport, driving licence or NUJ card to complete the registration process and receive your ID badge. You should always wear your ID badge and this badge cannot be swapped with anyone else at any time during the two-day Count. If you lose your pass, please speak to a member of our Corporate Communications team. Once registered, you are welcome to exit and enter the Count at any time during proceedings, this includes leaving to access refreshments, cafes, and restaurant services available at Braehead. The food mall is situated on the first floor of the shopping centre, immediately outside the Arena. Please note the availability of these services will be subject to the current restrictions. You may bring your own food and drink with you into the Arena and consume it at your allocated seat. 3 Hygiene measures and physical distancing We have taken every necessary step to support the Covid–19 safe operation of the Election Count. Measures will be enforced through the duration of the Count for the health and safety of all in attendance and your co-operation is greatly appreciated. If you are in any doubt about the measures in place and your responsibility to follow the measures, ask one of our Covid Supervisors for assistance. We will always be on hand to assist. Hand sanitising Hand-sanitising stations are positioned throughout the Count venue and you are reminded to use these regularly, especially on entry and exit. 2-metre physical distancing You must always observe 2-metre physical distancing, unless you are part of one household. A one-way system will be in place, clearly marked, to ensure this is maintained. Face covering You must wear a face covering when moving and circulating within the Count venue. You can choose to remove your face covering while seated, but you must continue to observe 2-metre physical distancing. One-way system A one-way system is in operation throughout the venue and direction of travel is clearly marked. Please always follow this one-way system and do not gather on walkways. Covid supervisors will be on site to help maintain physical distancing where required. Please do not take offence if you are asked to move along. We want to ensure a safe environment for everyone in the Arena. Toilet facilities Toilet facilities will be clearly marked and will be inspected and cleaned regularly. Please make sure you follow guidance on maximum numbers. This will be clearly displayed. Health and safety risk assessment Broadcast media must submit their health and safety risk assessment in advance. 4 Media area The media area is in Block N and P of the Arena tiered seating and members of the media will be allocated a seat in this area by the communications team and you should remain in your allocated seat when inside the Arena. A clearly marked one-way system to access and exit your seating will be in place and Covid supervisors will be available to direct you. Due to Covid-19 health and safety arrangements, access to the Count floor is not possible for any members of the media. Media should follow the Count process from their allocated seating area, viewing the verification announcements and declaration of results via the screens next to the stage. If you have any questions or require clarification, please ask a member of the communications team who will be able to assist. Interviews If you wish to interview a candidate or elected candidate, you can request this through our Communications team and they will be brought to an interview area within the media area. Please do not move around the Arena to speak to candidates or elected candidates. Advance arrangements have been arranged with accredited broadcast media, who have a dedicated area for filming and conducting interviews. Filming and photography Please ensure no ballot papers or counting screens are shown when filming or taking photographs of the Count. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 additional health and safety measures, photographers are not able to attend and we are unable to facilitate filming or photography on the Count floor during the Count or at the time of declarations. Our Communications team will have a count photographer who is able to provide pool photography. Filming and photographs of candidates will be facilitated in the media area, always maintaining physical distancing. 5 Wi-Fi Free Wi-Fi is available provided by Braehead Arena. • Search for Wi-Fi • Select Braehead free Wi-Fi • Input email address when prompted. We will also provide a network for media use, but Wi-Fi availability and network speeds will be monitored throughout the count to ensure the smooth running of the election. Any excessive use may require the user to switch to the alternative free Wi-Fi network. Thank you for your cooperation. • Username: RC_Event • Password: Med1a5678#21 Charging facilities for phones and laptops will be available in the media area on a rotational basis, but laptops won’t be able to be plugged in permanently from the allocated seat. Evacuation procedure If there is an emergency evacuation of the Arena, please follow the instructions of the Communications team, leave by the nearest emergency exit and go to the assembly point at Krispy Kreme. In the event of extreme weather, the assembly point will be at the entrance to Marks and Spencer, but this will be clearly communicated if this is the case so please proceed to Krispy Kreme unless instructed otherwise. Once Scottish Fire and Rescue has confirmed it is safe to return to the building, the Count staff will return first. The media and all other attendees will only be allowed to return to the building once all election staff are in place to ensure the security of the voting process. 6 Election information Returning Officer Sandra Black is the Regional Returning Officer for the West Scotland Region and the Constituency Returning Officer for three constituencies: Paisley; Renfrewshire North and West; Renfrewshire South.