The European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ and Local Returning Officers’ Charges) (Great Britain and Gibraltar) Order 2019

• Citation: S.I. 2019/886
• Sections: 10

Section 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ and Local Returning Officers’ Charges) (Great Britain and Gibraltar) Order 2019 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order extends to Great Britain and Gibraltar.

Section 2 Interpretation

In this Order—

“the 2004 Regulations” means the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004;

“relevant election or referendum” means an election or referendum referred to in regulation 11 of the 2004 Regulations (other than a European Parliamentary election).

Section 3 Revocation

This Order revokes the European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ and Local Returning Officers’ Charges) (Great Britain and Gibraltar) Order 2014 .

Section 4 Returning officers: overall maximum recoverable amount

The overall maximum amount recoverable by the returning officer for an electoral region listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 1 is the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 4 of that table.

Section 5 Returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified services

(1) The total of the charges recoverable by the returning officer for an electoral region listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 1 in respect of the services specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that table.

(2) The specified services are—

(a) discharging the returning officer’s duties at the election; and

(b) making arrangements for the election.

Section 6 Returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses

(1) The total of the charges recoverable by the returning officer for an electoral region listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 1 in respect of the expenses specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 3 of that table.

(2) The specified expenses are those incurred in—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the returning officer and any person appointed to assist the returning officer;

(c) the nomination process;

(d) printing or otherwise producing ballot papers;

(e) printing or otherwise producing and, where appropriate, publishing notices and any other documents required by any enactment or instrument for or in connection with a European Parliamentary election;

(f) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;

(g) providing and transporting equipment;

(h) providing information communications technology equipment and software and associated costs;

(i) providing security, including secure storage of ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;

(j) conducting the count;

(k) providing and receiving training; and

(l) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items.

Section 7 Local returning officers: overall maximum recoverable amount

The overall maximum amount recoverable by the local returning officer for a local counting area is—

(a) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is not taken together with the poll at a relevant election of referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 4 of the table in Schedule 2;

(b) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 4 of the table in Schedule 3.

Section 8 Local returning officers: maximum recoverable for specified services

(1) The total of the charges recoverable in respect of the services specified in paragraph (2) by the local returning officer for a local counting area must not exceed—

(a) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is not taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 2 of the table in Schedule 2;

(b) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 2 of the table in Schedule 3.

(2) The specified services are—

(a) conducting the election;

(b) discharging the local returning officers’ duties at the election; and

(c) making arrangements for the election.

Section 9 Local returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses

(1) The total of the charges recoverable in respect of the expenses specified in paragraph (2) by the local returning officer for a local counting area must not exceed—

(a) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is not taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 3 of the table in Schedule 2;

(b) where the poll at the European Parliamentary election in 2019 is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum, the amount listed in the corresponding entry for that local counting area in column 3 of the table in Schedule 3.

(2) The specified expenses are those incurred in—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the local returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the local returning officer and any person appointed to assist the local returning officer;

(c) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;

(d) printing, producing or purchasing postal voting documents and arranging for the delivery and payment of the costs of return by voters of such documents;

(e) printing or otherwise producing and arranging for the delivery of poll cards;

(f) printing or otherwise producing and, where appropriate, publishing notices and any other documents required by any enactment or instrument for or in connection with a European Parliamentary election;

(g) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;

(h) providing and transporting equipment;

(i) providing information and communications technology equipment and software and associated costs;

(j) providing security, including secure storage of ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;

(k) conducting the verification and the count;

(l) providing and receiving training; and

(m) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items.

Section 10 Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested election

At an uncontested election—

(a) articles 4 to 9 do not apply;

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for each electoral region is £350; and

(c) the overall maximum recoverable amount for each local counting area is £1,750.