Letter from Derbyshire Dales District Council
Dear Residents
As you will be aware Parish and District, and Parish Council Elections are due to take place on 4 May 2023. This means that all parish seats will be up for election and therefore any existing Members of Baslow & Bubnell Parish Council who wish to continue, will have to stand for election alongside any new candidates.
We therefore thought it may be useful to let you know about the nomination process and a few other things that are associated with it.
From Monday 6 February those who wish to stand can download nomination packs from our website at https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/elections2023
Candidate Briefings
We have arranged a briefing for prospective candidates at 6.00pm on Wednesday 15 February 2023 where we will outline what the role entails and the nomination process. This event is open to anyone in the Derbyshire Dales who is interested in standing in the Parish or District Council elections
There will be a further briefing for candidates and their agents at 6.00pm on Wednesday 15 March 2023. On this occasion we will go through the election timetable and consider some election do’s and don’ts. All candidates and agents (where appropriate) are invited
Finally we will be holding a briefing for confirmed candidates and agents at 6pm on Tuesday 18 April where we will go through details of the counting arrangements.
Participants to join these briefings through Zoom or in person at the Town Hall in Matlock. Anyone who wishes to join one or more of these sessions should email ro@derbyshiredales.gov.uk or call 01629 761335 indicating which sessions you wish to attend and confirming whether you plan to attend by Zoom or in person.
Nominations
This year the Returning Officer will accept nominations at:
Matlock Town Hall
From 21 March to 4 April (between 10am and 4pm)
We have also arranged for nomination papers to be submitted at the following locations at the specified times
Agricultural Business Centre Bakewell
Friday 24 March – 2pm – 4pm
Monday 27 March – 10am – 12 noon
Ashbourne Town Hall
Friday 24 March – 10 am – 12 noon
Monday 27 March – 2pm – 4pm
Whilst not mandatory, candidates are strongly advised to make an appointment during the above times, by calling 01629 761335 or emailing electoral@derbyshiredales.gov.uk Making an appointment will help you to avoid queues and possibly a long wait and, if required, allow the Returning Officer to carry out an informal check of the nominations so that any errors or omissions can be rectified prior to formal submission.
There are no restrictions on who can deliver nomination papers but please note that nomination forms must be delivered directly to the Returning Officer or his representative by hand so they cannot be posted or handed in at the Town Hall reception. If someone is delivering nominations on behalf of candidates please make sure they are aware of this and the delivery deadlines.
Purdah
This is the (unofficial) name for the period between the publication of the Notice of Election and the election itself. In general terms it means that the Council, its Members and employees should avoid conducting any business, or generating any publicity that could be construed as promoting any political party or individual.
Controversial decisions should be avoided and existing Members should not use Council resources to promote their campaigns for re-election or their political group. The Notice of Election will be published on Tuesday 21 March.
Register of Electors
Nominations will be based on the Register of Electors published on 1 March. Prospective candidates will be able to check whether they and their proposer and seconder are registered in the relevant area by calling our helpline on 01629 761335 (office hours). Candidates will be able to request their own copy of the register when validly nominated.
Counting of Votes
Town and Parish Council elections will be counted at Wirksworth Leisure Centre from 2pm on Friday 5 May. Results will be published on our website and you will be sent a copy of the result within a week of the election. I will write to confirmed candidates to invite them to attend the count.
Uncontested Elections
Many parishes are likely to have uncontested elections – where the number of candidates is equal to, or less than, the available seats. We will let the Parish Council Clerk know after the close of nominations whether this is the case in your area.
However, even if elected unopposed the new Councillors will not take their seats until they have signed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office – after the date of the election. Provided the Council is quorate the elected Members can advertise the remaining seats as casual vacancies and co-opt additional Members. The vacancies should be advertised within 35 working days of the Election.
Inquorate Parishes
If your Council is inquorate (a quorum is the highest of 3 or one third of the membership) the Returning Officer is required to arrange another election. Joint and Warded Councils may have inquorate Wards and similar arrangements apply. Your Council will not be able to operate if it, or one of its Wards is inquorate.
Voter ID
One of the most significant changes at these elections will be the requirement for in person voters to show valid photo ID before they receive a ballot paper. The Electoral Commission has produced posters to raise awareness of the new requirements.
Please note that if any in person electors do not have existing photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence they may apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. More information on how to apply can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
As a result of the introduction of voter ID and the need to give additional guidance to voters, we are now required to produce an A4 poll card. This will mean that when they are issued polling card will look slightly different compared to previous years.
I hope that you find this helpful. If you need any further information please email:Â ro@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
Derbyshire Dales District Council