The Corporate Affairs Committee of Middlesbrough Council met on Thursday 23 January 2025 to review and approve changes to polling districts, places, and stations across several wards. The committee approved all proposed changes, which aim to ensure electors have accessible and practical facilities for voting.

Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations

The committee approved a series of changes to polling arrangements across Middlesbrough, following a review mandated by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013¹. These changes, which will take effect from 1 February 2025, are intended to improve accessibility and convenience for voters.

In the Longlands and Beechwood ward, the committee approved the use of St Chad's Church as the polling place for polling district GC and Beech Grove Primary School for polling district GD. These changes were necessary because the previous buildings used as polling stations were no longer available.

For Ladgate ward, amendments were made to polling district boundaries. Electors living north of Ladgate Lane will now vote at Easterside Community Hub, while those south of Ladgate Lane will vote at Marton Manor Primary School. This adjustment was made partly due to recent changes in parliamentary constituency boundaries and to provide a more convenient polling station for new developments in the west of the ward.

In Nunthorpe ward, polling districts TAM and TBM will be combined into a single district, TAM, with its polling place at Nunthorpe Methodist Church on Connaught Road. The existing polling district TCM will be renamed TBM, and its polling place will be relocated from Chandlers Ridge Academy to the new community centre once it opens. These changes were influenced by community feedback and the need to address long journeys for electors in the southern part of the ward, as well as to move away from using schools as polling stations.

During the discussion, members considered potential future solutions for reviews, including the use of caretaker buildings in schools to avoid closures during elections. It was clarified that while the council can compel the use of schools for election purposes, their suitability is limited by the facilities they offer. Concerns were raised about potential issues if elections were called before new community facilities were completed, but it was confirmed that Chandlers Ridge would continue to serve as a polling station in the interim. The use of mobile stations was also discussed, with the understanding that they are generally a last resort due to accessibility and cost issues.

The report highlighted that the review process involved consultation with local councillors, Members of Parliament, and the public. Feedback received from electors, polling station staff, and inspectors was considered, alongside practical issues such as access and the capacity of polling stations. The financial impact of the changes was noted, with the proposed removal of two fixed stations expected to save approximately £1,600 per election. The committee was assured that carrying out this review ensures the council meets its legal obligations under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.