Call for Government to pay for local elections

THE costs to councils of the May elections need to be covered separately by Government rather than included in Covid grants, Birmingham’s council leader said.

Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward said he agrees “we have to have elections” but said “holding them during a pandemic will entail a great deal of extra work and expense”.

The city is currently set to vote along with the rest of the West Midlands in the mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.

City council by-elections also look likely for the wards of Oscott, Quinton and Hall Green North.

The Government has said the Covid-related extra costs of elections were included as a priority in its £1.55 billion “Covid-19 expenditure pressures grant” in December.

The grant was “unringfenced” but the Government stated priorities included adult social care, children’s services, public health services and household waste services.

Others included shielding the clinically extremely vulnerable, homelessness and rough sleeping, domestic abuse, managing excess deaths and support for re-opening the country.

But Cllr Ward said separate funding for the extra costs of the elections should be made available rather than leaving councils to draw on the Covid-related grant.

He said: “The Government is adamant that elections will go ahead in May and whilst I agree that we have to have elections, there doesn’t seem to be any understanding that holding them during a pandemic will entail a great deal of extra work and expense.

“Instead, the Government expects councils to cover the cost of this election using funds they have been provided to deal with coronavirus in general and that is completely unacceptable. Ministers have had months to make necessary changes to protect our democratic process, such as introducing an all-postal ballot or voting over multiple days.

“Instead, they have failed to prepare, and this lack of preparation could force many people to choose between their health and their right to vote.”

In response,

a

Cabinet

Office spokesperson said: “The Government is working to ensure that necessary funding is available so that the polls can be delivered safely and securely.

“In December we announced further grant funding for local councils, we have been clear that we will reimburse reasonable Covid-related expenses incurred for the Police and Crime Commissioner polls, and we will keep these matters under review.

“The UK Government has already ruled out an all-postal vote for these elections, as this increases fraud risks and removes choice from voters who wish to cast their vote in person.

“Anyone can apply for a postal vote on request if they would prefer to vote from home.”