Recharges to parishes for administering parish elections at WNC
Why do we charge parishes for running their elections?
Parishes receive a precept via the Local Authority Council Tax to run the parish and this includes services such as recreation parks, lighting, cemeteries and so on. The precept also includes funds for running their elections, generally once every four years. However, elections can be called at any time due to parish councillors no longer being in office due to resignations, deaths and so on.
For an election to run through to polling day, more candidates need to be validly nominated than there are vacant seats, this is where most of the costs for running elections come in.
At West Northamptonshire Council, our policy is to charge the parishes for elections based on actual costs plus a small administration charge for processing nomination forms and administrating the running of the election.
The parishes are recharged at the actual going rates of the services provided which are:
- Poll Cards: printing and postage
- Postal votes: printing and postage
- Cost of ballot papers – polling station, tendered and postal ballot papers
- Room hire for running the poll
- Staffing costs: Returning Officer, Presiding Officers, Poll Clerks, Polling Station Inspectors, Count Assistants, Postal Vote Openers and security plus any other staff costs in relation to running the poll on the day. Note: the staff working at the elections are charged on a basis that has been agreed by West Northants Committee members. Please see the schedule below
- Hire and delivery of voting booths
- Administration
Staffing Costs as at 14 February 2022
| Staff | Further information | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Returning Officer – Contested (i) | For every 500 electors (or part thereof) in each parish, parish ward or town boundary (single election) | £65 |
| Returning Officer – Contested (ii) | For every 500 electors (or part thereof) in each parish, parish ward or town boundary (combined election) | £20 |
| Returning Officer – Uncontested | For each parish or town council – additional fee for each parish ward - £15 | £25 |
| Presiding Officer Fee | Additional £25 for each combined election up to a maximum of 3 | £225 |
| Poll Clerk Fee | Additional £15 for each combined election up to a maximum of 3 | £155 |
| Polling Station Inspector Fee | None | £250 |
| Postal Vote Manager | Per hour (Evening) | £25 |
| Postal Vote Manager | Per hour (Daytime) | £22.50 |
| Postal Vote Assistant | Per hour (Evening) | £17.50 |
| Postal Vote Assistant | Per hour (Daytime) | £15 |
| Verification and Count Manager | Per hour for night count (end of poll onwards and evening and weekends) | £35 |
| Verification and Count Manager | Per hour daytime | £32.50 |
| Verification and Count Supervisor | Per hour for night count (end of poll onwards), weekends and bank holidays | £25 |
| Verification and Count Supervisor | Per hour daytime | £22.50 |
| Verification/Count Assistant and Security | Per hour for night count (end of poll onwards), weekends and bank holidays | £17.50 |
| Verification/Count Assistant and Security | Per hour daytime | £15 |
| Administration costs | One-off cost for running the election such as processing nominations, arranging printing and postage, provision of paperwork | £200 |
The cost of elections and your recharge can depend on how many elections are being held in your area on the day. When all out elections are held, for example, all West Northants wards, all parishes and maybe one national election, such as the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner the costs are split depending on the number. Usually, the costs of printing and postage, polling accommodation and staffing are among the items that can be shared. However, anything that relates solely to the parish such as ballot papers are charged as a whole.
The costs we incur change depending on the prices we are charged by Royal Mail and our service providers for that particular election. We receive discounts on bulk postage and printing and therefore we may pay more per elector for a smaller parish election that we would for a larger event. If you would like an idea on how much you would pay, please email us on [email protected].
If an election is not contested, then we would only charge for the following:
- Returning Officer Fee - £25 for each parish plus £15 for each additional ward within a parish for example, if a parish is warded and has 4 wards, the parish would pay £25 for the first ward and then an extra £15 for each of the other three wards. The total would then be £70.
- Processing of Nomination forms - £50
Invoices for large scheduled parish elections are normally sent out within two months of the election date.
For by-elections and referendums, this should be within four weeks.
How do you pay your invoice?
| Method | Payment details |
|---|---|
| Online |
Pay on-line with a debit or credit card at our online payment page You can use internet banking or make a BACS payment direct to the Council Pay to West Northamptonshire Council sort code 20-17-68 account number 03538028 Ensure that you quote the payment reference on this notice when making payment If paying more than one invoice, please send a payment remittance to [email protected] |
| By phone |
You can make a payment by phone. Call 0300 126 1050 for our 24-hour automated service. You will need a debit or credit card and will need to quote the payment reference on this notice Alternatively, you can call the FinOps Helpdesk on during office hours (8:00am to 6:00pm) |
| Post Office |
You can pay at any PayPoint outlet using the barcode printed on this notice. You can also use the barcode to pay at most Post Offices |
| Direct Debit |
For regular payments to be paid by Direct Debit, download a Direct Debit form; go to our online payment page and follow the Direct Debit link Or contact the FinOps Helpdesk on 0300 123 3200 |
| Cheque | Cheques can be paid to One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, NN1 1ED quoting the payment reference |
Anything else you need to know?
Please send an email with your query to [email protected] or phone the switchboard on 0300 126 3000.
Last updated 06 July 2023