Agenda and minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 November 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 Novemeber 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

To consider commencing a review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations.

The Director: Policy & Governance presented a series of slides to the Committee to seek agreement on progressing the Polling Districts, Places and Stations Review. To support Members’ understanding, the Director provided an overview of what a polling district review involved and outlined why it was an important part of ensuring effective electoral arrangements.

The Committee heard that the purpose of the review was to maintain accessible democratic participation across the Borough. This included ensuring that voters knew where they should vote, that polling stations were safe, suitable and accessible, that electoral arrangements reflected local community structures and population size, and that the Council met its legal duties under electoral law. Members were reminded that a full review must be carried out every five years, with the last one having been completed in November 2023. Although smaller interim reviews could be undertaken more frequently, a full statutory review must still be completed within the five?year cycle.

An overview of the current polling arrangements was provided, noting that the Borough contained 102 polling districts—56 in Telford and 46 in The Wrekin—with one polling station operating within each district. As part of the review process, officers would visit every polling station to assess each venue against set criteria. The Committee was invited to take part in some of these visits to gain a fuller understanding of the requirements. Assessments would include engagement with stakeholders and residents, checking accessibility, lighting and facilities, and identifying any alternative sites, where necessary. Members were advised that schools were generally avoided where possible due to the disruption caused during the school day, and the review provided an opportunity to explore alternative venues.

The Director also took the Committee through the proposed timetable, highlighting that the notice of the interim review would be published on 23 February 2026, followed by a consultation period running from 23 February to 6 April 2026. A further meeting of the Boundary Review Committee would then take place to consider the responses received before recommendations moved forward.

Members thanked officers for their work to date and sought clarification on how consultation responses would be submitted. They were advised that residents and stakeholders could respond by email or in writing, and that the consultation pack would contain the full list of polling stations, encouraging respondents to indicate which stations they wished to comment on. When asked what successful engagement would look like, officers noted that a strong review would involve responses covering the majority of polling stations. Work would take place with SALC to help promote participation, and inspectors’ statutory checklists for polling stations would also provide valuable evidence for the review.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.   The commencement of an interim review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations, be agreed.

2.  The draft Terms of Reference for the review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

3.  The draft timetable, attached at Appendix B of the report, be approved.