The National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2016

Title, commencement and application

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2016.

(2) This Order comes into force on 16 March 2015.

(3) This Order applies in relation to Wales.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order—

“Assembly constituency” (“etholaeth Cynulliad”) is to be construed in accordance with section 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006(1);

“Assembly electoral region” (“rhanbarth etholiadol Cynulliad”) is to be construed in accordance with section 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006;

“PCC election” (“etholiad comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu”) means the election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011(2).

Revocation

3.  The following orders are revoked—

(a) the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2011(3); and

(b) the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) (Amendment) Order 2012(4).

Overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election

4.  The overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 1.

Maximum recoverable amount for specified services at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election

5.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a constituency returning officer at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election in respect of specified services must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly constituency in column 2 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) The specified services are—

(a) making arrangements for the election;

(b) conducting the election;

(c) discharging all of the constituency returning officer’s duties in respect of the election.

Maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election

6.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a constituency returning officer at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as a PCC election in respect of specified expenses must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly constituency in column 3 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) The specified expenses are—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the constituency returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the constituency returning officer and any person appointed to assist the constituency returning officer;

(c) the costs of the nomination process;

(d) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;

(e) printing or otherwise producing or purchasing postal vote stationery;

(f) printing or otherwise producing, and arranging for the delivery of, poll cards;

(g) printing or otherwise producing and publishing all election notices and documents;

(h) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;

(i) providing and transporting equipment;

(j) providing information and communications technology equipment and software and associated costs;

(k) providing security, including secure storage of ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;

(l) conducting the verification and the count;

(m) providing and receiving training;

(n) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items.

Overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election

7.  The overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 2.

Maximum recoverable amount for specified services at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election

8.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a regional returning officer at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election in respect of specified services must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly electoral region in column 2 of the table in Schedule 2.

(2) The specified services are—

(a) making arrangements for the election;

(b) conducting the election;

(c) discharging all of the regional returning officer’s duties in respect of the election.

Maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election

9.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a regional returning officer at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as a PCC election in respect of specified expenses must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly electoral region in column 3 of the table in Schedule 2.

(2) The specified expenses are—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the regional returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the regional returning officer and any person appointed to assist the regional returning officer;

(c) the costs of the nomination process;

(d) printing or otherwise producing and publishing election notices;

(e) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;

(f) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items.

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested Assembly constituency election

10.  At an uncontested Assembly constituency election—

(a) articles 4 to 6 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for services and expenses for each constituency is £1,750.00 (one thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds).

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested Assembly regional election

11.  At an uncontested Assembly regional election—

(a) articles 7 to 9 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for services and expenses for each region is £350.00 (three hundred and fifty pounds).

Leighton Andrews

Minister for Public Services, one of the Welsh Ministers

15 March 2016