The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Tunbridge Wells Council is scheduled to meet on Monday 22 September 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including a flexible voting pilot for the May 2026 elections, and to receive presentations from Southern Water, the Cabinet Member for Planning on planning enforcement, and the Leader of the Council on the Strategic Plan and the Community Governance Review.

Flexible Voting Pilot - May 2026 Elections

The committee is scheduled to discuss a proposal for Tunbridge Wells to participate in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) flexible voting pilots for the local elections in May 2026. The council's application to the MHCLG can be found in Appendix A - Electoral Modernisation Pilot Application.

The council is considering piloting 'early in-person voting' at three hubs located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Paddock Wood and Cranbrook. These hubs would be open on Saturday 2 May 2026 and Sunday 3 May 2026, from 8am to 6pm. Electors would be able to cast their vote at any of the three hubs, regardless of their local hub.

In addition to early in-person voting, the council is also proposing pilots of:

• Print on demand ballot papers
• Digital poll cards
• An electronic version of the postal vote return form

The report pack notes that:

The Council's proposed flexible voting pilot supports the Government's aim to improve convenience, accessibility, and resilience in electoral delivery through early voting and accessibility of voting hubs.

The Flexible Voting Pilot Application - Local Elections May 2026 document includes a comment from William Benson, Chief Executive and Returning Officer:

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a successful track record in delivering accurate, well run, effective and efficient elections. We have an experienced team (both the core team and the wider team we pull in for elections) and we have also successfully piloted innovations within the existing legislative framework (such as the use of iPads in polling stations). We have a good relationship with parties and agents and also with suppliers. Our relatively unique status – certainly in Kent – in electing by thirds provides a manageable environment in which to pilot new flexible voting arrangements. I very much hope that you will look favourably upon this application.

The recommendations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are that they support the Portfolio Holder's recommendations that Full Council:

1. Approve participation in the flexible voting pilots in respect of the Local Elections in May 2026, subject to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) approval.
2. Delegate authority to the Returning Officer (Chief Executive), in consultation with the Leader, to make the necessary associated arrangements to implement the flexible voting pilots.

Presentations

The committee is scheduled to receive three presentations:

• From Southern Water
• From the Cabinet Member for Planning on Planning Enforcement
• From the Leader of the Council on the Strategic Plan and the Community Governance Review.

Work Programme

The committee will be considering its future work programme, according to the Work Programme September 2025 document.