Question submitted by: Terri Portman

To the Cabinet Member: Cllr Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader

How many voters were removed from the electoral register for the 3 Plymouth Constituencies between June 2016 and June 2017 but were not informed after they were removed of their removal, and were not given details of how to challenge the decision to remove them?

Response:

In the ordinary business of keeping the electoral register for Plymouth up to date; changes, additions and deletions are made for a variety of reasons.  In the case of the deletion of registered electors there are a number of reasons for their deletion, such as elector deceased, moved to another property within Plymouth, moved away, registered elsewhere.

During the review process, some electors are recorded as “pending” electors and not registered until they provide matching details that agree with Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) records or alternative documentation to verify their identity (e.g., Passport or Driving Licence).  Those that fail to respond to requests for evidence are subsequently deleted from the register.

For those electors that have been identified as needing deletion, their records are changed to “pending” removal.  We write to the elector to give ‘Notice of Type A Review’, this gives the elector 14 days to provide evidence as to why they should not be deleted from the register.  Those that fail to respond to requests for evidence are subsequently deleted.

Where we delete the elector from the register, we write to them informing them of the outcome and state whether there is a right of appeal, including the time within which notice of appeal must be given, and any other information about the appeal that we consider appropriate.  However, if the reason for deletion is because the elector has died or registered with another authority, the notice of deletion (‘Notice of Review Outcome’) is surplus to requirement and therefore not issued.

During the period of June 2016 to June 2017, we processed 10,337 deletions and 27,132 additions (net 16,795 additions).  Of the 10,337 deletions, 331 electors were deleted and not notified.  All other deletions followed the review process and the elector will have received the ‘Notice of Type A Review’ and the notification of deletion (‘Notice of Review Outcome’) where it was appropriate to do so.  We are currently investigating the ability to use the new electoral system to report the deletions by the reason for deletion, this will enable sight of those where a ‘Notice of Review Outcome’ was required.

Question submitted by: Mr Daniel Reilly

To the Cabinet Member: Cllr Jordan, Cabinet member for Culture

Will the Council add panels in the Mayflower Museum so as to include details of the 17th Century genocide of Indigenous Nations of North America and the enslavement of African people, which are part of the Mayflower Story, as the Museum is supposed to tell the uncensored Mayflower story?           

Response:

The council is investing in a major exhibition to mark the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23