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Resolved
 

(1)         
That the recommendation of the Personnel Committee
that Gordon Stewart be appointed Chief Executive from 8 January
2024 be agreed.
 

(2)         
That the recommendation of the Personnel Committee
that Gordon Stewart be appointed the Council’s Head of Paid
Service for the purposes of Section 4 of the Local Government and
Housing Act 1989 with effect from8 January 2024 be
agreed.
 

(3)         
That, in accordance with Section 8 of the
Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation,
Gordon Stewart be appointed as Electoral Registration Officer for
Cherwell District Council from 8 January 2024.
 

(4)         
That, in accordance with Section 35 of the
Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation
Gordon Stewart be appointed as Returning Officer for Cherwell
District Council with authority to act in that capacity for
elections to the District Council and all parish and town councils
within the area of the Cherwell district from 8 January
2024.
 

(5)         
That Gordon Stewart also be appointed or authorised
to act in respect of all related electoral, polling or referendum
duties, including in relation to County Council elections, and for
national and regional polls or referendums and be authorised to
exercise all delegated powers of the Returning Officer and
Electoral Registration Officer as set out in the Constitution from
8 January 2024.
 

(6)         
That, in relation to the
duties of Returning Officer or any other electoral, referendum or
polling duties arising from such appointment, it be agreed that the
Returning Officer shall be entitled to be remunerated in accordance
with the scale of fees approved by Council for local elections, or
the relevant scale of fees prescribed by a Fees Order in respect of
national or regional elections, polls or
referendums.
 

(7)         
That it be agreed that in
all cases where it is a legal requirement or normal practice to do
so, the Returning Officer may elect for such fees to be
superannuable, and the Council shall pay the appropriate employer's
contribution to the superannuation fund, recovering such employer's
contributions from central government or other local authorities or
agencies where this can be done.
 

(8)         
That, in relation to the
conduct of local authority elections and polls, and elections to
the United Kingdom Parliament, and all other electoral duties where
the Council is entitled by law to do so, it be agreed that the
Council shall take out and maintain in force insurance indemnifying
the Council, the Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning
Officer against legal expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with the defence of any proceedings brought against the Council,
Electoral Registration Officer or the Returning Officer and/or the
cost of holding another election in the event of the original
election being declared invalid (provided that such proceedings or
invalidation are the result of the inadvertent contravention of the
Representation of the People Acts or other legislation governing
the electoral process, and provided that, in the case of the
Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer, such
proceedings or invalidation arise from an act or omission which the
Officer reasonably believes is within the Officer’s
powers).
 

(9)         
That, in the event of such
insurance carrying an 'excess' clause by which an initial portion
of risk is not insured, it be agreed that the Council, through its
internal insurance fund or otherwise, will indemnify the Electoral
Registration Officer and Returning Officer up to the value of such
excess.
 

(10)      
That the Council notes its
duty to provide support to the Electoral Registration Officer and
Returning Officer.