LGA Independent Group Elections 2017
Updated Guidance for the Election of Office Holders:
Group Leader, Group Deputy Leader and Group Treasurer
Issued by Sarah Woodhouse, Returning Officer to the Independent Group Elections 2017
Monday 8 May 2017
1. GENERAL
1.1. The Group holds elections for the posts of Group Leader, Deputy Leader and Treasurer every other
year. Elections for these posts will take place in May-June 2017.
1.2. Appendix 1 of the Independent Group Constitution makes the following provisions in respect of the
elections’ process:
a) Every Independent Group Member whose authority is in membership of the LGA will be eligible
to stand and vote.
b) In the event of there being more than one nomination for a position, a postal ballot will be held;
c) Each member of the Independent Group will receive one vote for each of the positions up for
election.
d) The Returning Officer (RO) is charged with ensuring the integrity of the ballot is maintained.
e) The decision of the RO will be final.
2. ELIGIBILITY and PROCESS OF STANDING FOR ELECTION
Eligibility
2.1. Any Councillor from an authority in membership of the LGA and able to receive support from the
Independent Group is eligible to stand for the election of any of the Office Holder positions:
Group Leader, Deputy Leader and Treasurer.
Nomination Form
2.2. To become nominated as a candidate, the member needs to submit a completed Nomination
Form to the RO by 5pm on Thursday 25 May 2017. Nomination Forms will be available on the
Group website or from the Office of the RO from the date of publication of Notice of Election –
Monday 8 May 2017.
Nominators
2.3. The Nomination Form must contain the names, authority address and be signed by three
nominators. Nominators must be Councillors able to receive support from the LGA Independent
Group and must sit on separate authorities. One of the nominators can be a fellow member
serving on the same authority as the member being nominated, provided they are from a political
affiliation able to receive support from the LGA Independent Group.
2.4. The member standing for nomination and his/her nominators must be serving Councillors at the
time of close of nominations in order to stand nominated for election.
1
Consent to Nomination
2.5. The Nomination Form must be accompanied by the Consent to Nomination from the member
standing to be nominated (part B of the Nomination Form). Scanned or digitalised signatures will
be accepted.
Multiple Nominations
2.6. The member may be nominated for more than one post up for election. In such cases the
member will be required to advise the RO, in writing, prior to the despatch of ballot papers, which
post he/she would like to fill should he/she be successful in winning more than one post, and if
he/she is nominated for all three office holder posts, he/she must advise the Returning Officer, in
writing, prior to the despatch of ballot papers, of his/her order of preference (‘the declared post’).
2.7. In situations where 2.6 applies, a candidate who is successful in winning more than one post will
take up the declared post and the candidate with the second highest number of votes for the
other post(s) shall be elected to the other post(s).
Withdrawal of Nominations
2.8. There will be a 24-hour period following the close of nominations at 5pm on Thursday 25 May
until 5pm on Friday 26 May during which candidates can withdraw their nomination.
2.9. A Provisional Statement of Persons Nominated will be provided to all candidates who stand
nominated at 5pm on Thursday 25 May.
2.10. The final Statement of Persons Nominated will be published on the Independent Group’s website
at 5pm on Friday 26 May.
Personal Statement
2.11. Each candidate will be entitled to submit a Personal Statement of not more than two sides of an
A4 sheet, to be posted out to voting members along with postal ballot papers. This must be
submitted to the Office of the RO in PDF format or in a good enough condition to be scanned, by
the date of close of nominations.
2.12. The design and content is to be determined by the nominee, can be in colour or black and white
and include any combination of text and graphics.
2.13. The Personal Statement should not make any false statements about the personal character or
conduct of a candidate in order to affect the return of a candidate at election.
2.14. The Independent Group Office staff, the Returning Officer or any other persons engaged in the
work of the LGA must not be asked to assist in the creation of Personal Statements.
Campaigning
2.15. No LGA resources, including officer time, office facilities or resources should be used to support
any campaigning by candidates. Specifically, lists of names and addresses of Independent
Group members will not be released for the purposes of the elections.
2.16. During the election period all Group business will be communicated to Members via Independent
Group Officers, including all think tank activity. The Group Leader’s Weekly Bulletin will also
cease during this time.
2
2.17. No candidate may incur further expenses on campaigning at any time after the Notice of
Elections is published, nor may they, or any third party on their behalf, send or communicate any
additional material to members relating to the election, by any means.
2.18. Existing Office Holders will be able to continue their roles as usual during the election period.
3. THE RETURNING OFFICER
3.1.
The Independent Group Executive Committee has appointed the Head of the Group Office,
Sarah Woodhouse as the RO and Claire Holloway, Head of Corporate Services at the LGA as
Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) for the Group Elections 2017.
3.2.
The RO drew a timetable for the election covering the receipt of nominations, despatch and
return of ballot papers and the counting of the votes for each post being contested. This timetable
is set out in section 4 below.
3.3.
The decision of the RO must maintain impartiality and integrity, and it will be final.
3.4.
All Election related queries must be directed to the RO:
Sarah Woodhouse
Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street
London EC1M 5LG
Tel: 020 7664 3206
Email: [email protected]
4. ELECTION TIMETABLE
Date
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Monday, 8 May 2017
Monday, 8 May 2017
Thursday, 25 May 2017, 5pm
Thursday, 25 May 2017, 5pm
Event
Publication of Notice of Election in LGA magazine FIRST
(start of process on Monday 8 May)
Nomination papers available from the office of the RO and
online
RO to email Group membership
Deadline for delivery of nomination papers (including
personal statements)
RO to email the Provisional Statement of Persons
Nominated to all candidates
Friday, 26 May 2017, 5pm
Deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers
Friday, 26 May 2017, 5pm
Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
2.30-4pm, Layden House, rooms D&E
RO briefing meeting with candidates. Dial in facilities will be
available.
Wednesday, 7 June 2017
Printing of ballot papers
Thursday, 8 June 2017
Ballot papers posted out in case of contested elections
Thursday, 29 June 2017, 5pm
Deadline for receipt of ballot papers
Friday, 30 June 2017
Count
Tuesday, 4 July 2017
Declaration of election results at Independent Group AGM
3
5. WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF OFFICE HOLDERS
5.1 Independent Group Leader / LGA Vice-Chairman
As Group Leader
5.1.1
As Leader of the LGA Independent Group you will be expected to consistently and
effectively raise the profile of the Independent Group both within the Local Government
Association and externally, at local and national government level and with partner
organisations as appropriate. You will be expected to work with the whole of the Local
Government Group to further the cause of local government in England and Wales.
5.1.2
You will be expected to follow the principles of the LGA Independent Group Constitution
and the Performance Protocol for members.
5.1.3
You will be expected to attend meetings of LGA Group Leaders as scheduled and
potentially at short notice, as well as meetings of the Local Government Group Executive,
Councillors’ Forum, Leadership Board and Independent Group Executive Committee every
other month. Attendance at additional meetings will be required as arranged, including
monthly Information & Development Seminars. You will be invited to high level receptions
and briefings from time to time. In addition, travel throughout England and Wales is
required for attendance at regional meetings of Independent Group members and for the
Group’s Annual Conference(s). You may be required to attend press and broadcast media
sessions from time to time and on rare occasions, to give evidence to a Parliamentary
Select Committee.
5.1.4
Taking advice from the Deputy Group Leader and Group Treasurer, you will determine
additional Independent Group members to be invited to sit on the Group’s Executive
Committee, determine Independent Group appointments to LGA Boards, Panels,
Committees and Commissions, as well as, Outside Bodies.
5.1.5
You will be expected to answer all email, hard copy and telephone correspondence
promptly. You will be expected to provide articles for a variety of publications as they arise
within the Local Government Group and the Independent Group. You will be required to
make yourself available to respond to queries outside of normal office hours.
5.1.6
The Group Leader will provide a summary of group activity to go in the Group’s annual
report year on year.
As LGA Vice-Chairman
5.1.1
The Group Leader of the Independent Group is also a Vice Chair of the Local Government
Association.
5.1.2
As a member of the LGA Leadership Board, to contribute to the development of the
strategic direction of the LGA and the LGA central bodies in consultation with the other
Office Holders, Executive members and the LGA Chief Executive, taking into account the
best use of resources.
5.1.3
You will be required to work with, and if appropriate deputise for, the Chairman of the LGA,
as principal representative of the Association.
5.1.4
You will be expected to work with the other LGA Office Holders in advancing the interests
and policies of the Association through public comment, debate and participation in
meetings, conferences and other events.
4
5.1.5
You will be responsible for clearing and commenting on draft positions, papers and media
releases as requested.
5.1.6
You will be expected to develop and maintain effective relations with the political parties
and groups at national, regional and member authority level.
5.1.7
Associated with your role of Group Leader in shaping and steering the political direction of
the Group, you will be responsible for progressing the LGA policies within the Independent
Group.
5.1.8
To attend and contribute at meetings of the General Assembly, LGA Executive, LGA
Leadership Board and the Councillors’ Forum.
5.1.9
To undertake a range of activities, including regular visits to councils and groupings of
councils, writing articles and making speeches on the work of the LGA, participating in peer
challenges and ensuring the role is visible and recognised in the group and in the sector as
a whole.
5.1.10
To lead political engagement with member councils under the control of the relevant Group
to ensure that they understand the benefits of, and remain in, membership of the
Association.
5.1.11
You will be required to commit 2.5 days per week to the role. Set according to LGA political
balance, this role currently carries a remuneration of £34,080 pa.
Please note that if you are elected as Independent Group Leader, then under the current Local
Government Association Group Scheme of Allowances, you will not be entitled to additional
remuneration should you be appointed to any other member structure within the Local Government
Association. If you are an Independent Group Member Peer as well as being Leader of the
Independent Group, you will be entitled to undertake up to no more than 10 days paid work as a
member peer during each year you are in office.
6.2 Deputy Independent Group Leader
6.2.1 The Deputy Leader, you will be required to deputise for the Group Leader, sometimes at
short notice, in respect of any or all of the duties, activities and responsibilities as outlined,
for the Group Leader above.
6.2.2 You will be expected to follow the principles of the LGA Independent Group Constitution
and the Performance Protocol for members.
6.2.3 You will be required to support the Group Leader in the process of appointment of
members to the various LGA Governance Structures and Outside Bodies, every year.
6.2.4 The Deputy Group Leader will be expected to attend meetings of the Independent Group
Executive Committee every other month.
6.3 Independent Group Treasurer
6.3.1 The Treasurer of the Independent Group will be responsible for maintaining an overview of
the Group’s budget year on year and month by month. You will provide a regular steer to
the Head of Office on budget issues and report issues arising to the meetings of the
Independent Group Executive Committee.
5
6.3.2 The Group Treasurer will approve the setting of budgets each year and raise any queries
on the management of the budget promptly with the Head of Office, approve and
communicate to other members of the Independent Executive Group any changes in the
management of the budget as they may occur.
6.3.2 You will be expected to follow the principles of the LGA Independent Group Constitution
and the Performance Protocol for members.
6.3.3 Occasionally, the Group Treasurer will be asked to attend meetings and engage in some or
all of the other activities, responsibilities and duties outlined above for both the Group
Leader and Deputy Group Leader, in the absence of both these representatives.
6.3.4 You will support the Group Leader on group appointments to LGA member structures year
on year.
6.3.5 The Treasurer will be expected to attend meetings of the Independent Group Executive
Committee every other month.
Please note that at the current time there is no remuneration from the Local Government Association
or the Independent Group for colleagues holding the office of Deputy Group Leader or Treasurer
within the Independent Group. Expenses incurred in travelling to and from meetings are met from
the Independent Group Activity Budget or the Local Government Association budget as appropriate.
6