The General Purpose Committee of Hammersmith & Fulham Council met on Monday 12 January 2026 to discuss proposals for the review of polling places and districts across the borough. The meeting's agenda focused on reviewing the current polling arrangements and considering updates to the polling scheme.

Polling Places and Districts Review

The committee was scheduled to consider a report detailing the methodology and outcomes of the 2025 polling places and districts review. The report, authored by Zoe Wilkins, Electoral Services Manager, and presented by Sharon Lea, Chief Executive and Acting Returning Officer, outlined proposed changes to the borough's polling scheme. The review aimed to ensure that polling places are accessible and convenient for all electors, in line with the requirements of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^1].

The report included recommendations for the approval of updated parliamentary polling districts and polling places, as well as for all other referenda and elections held within the borough. It also proposed that the Electoral Registration Officer be instructed to make the necessary amendments to polling districts and to revise and republish the electoral register on 1 February 2026.

The review process involved a comprehensive consultation period, with notices published on the council's website and the Have Your Say platform. Invitations to respond were sent to local elected representatives, political party organisers, and local disability action groups. The report detailed 27 responses received during the consultation, which were provided in full and summarised with comments from the Returning Officer.

Key criteria used in assessing proposals included ensuring reasonable facilities for voting, accessibility for disabled voters, and the ideal location of polling places within their respective districts. The report also considered factors such as the number of electors per district, the use of natural boundaries, and the avoidance of schools where possible.

The report highlighted that all pre-existing polling places had been visited by electoral services officers to conduct accessibility surveys, based on Electoral Commission guidance. An Equality Impact Assessment, detailed in Appendix 3, was developed to consider the review's impact on electors with protected characteristics. No Climate and Ecological Emergency Implications were identified for this review.

The report included detailed proposals for each ward, outlining any changes to polling districts and proposed polling places. For example, in the College Park and Old Oak ward, a proposal was made to designate Nadi Park Royal as the polling place for the CLB district. In Fulham Reach, a proposed change involved merging the FRC and FRCC districts into a single FRC district. Several wards, including Addison, Avonmore, and Brook Green, had no changes proposed.

The report also included the Returning Officer's comments on various submissions received during the consultation. These comments addressed specific proposals, such as the potential relocation of polling districts in Fulham Reach and Hammersmith Broadway, and the designation of new polling places in Grove and Lillie. The Returning Officer's comments also addressed proposals for Munster and Palace and Hurlingham wards, including the merging of districts and the designation of new polling places.

For Parsons Green and Sandford, a proposal was made to designate Christ Church Fulham as the polling place for the PSC district. The Returning Officer noted that a suggestion to create a new district for the King's Road Park development would be considered in a future review. In Ravenscourt ward, a proposal was made to designate Holy Innocents Church as the polling place for the RAB district, replacing the Church Hall.

The report also detailed proposed changes for Sands End, Shepherds Bush Green, Walham Green, Wendell Park, West Kensington, White City, and Wormholt wards. In West Kensington, a proposal was made to designate Avonmore Primary School as the polling place for the WEB polling district, with a review planned once a new West Kensington Estate Tenants Hall is completed.

The report was accompanied by detailed maps of the proposed polling arrangements in Appendix 2, the Equalities Impact Assessment in Appendix 3, responses to the consultation in Appendix 4, and Electoral Commission guidance and an accessibility checklist in Appendix 5. The financial implications of the updated scheme were estimated to be a small increase in costs of approximately £1100 for polling station hire overall, with additional hire fees for parliamentary and Greater London Authority elections funded by central government or the Greater London Authority, and local council elections funded by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.