Ss. 7A, 7B and cross-heading inserted (1.4.2026) by Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (asp 4), ss. 69(4), 73(2) (with s. 71); S.S.I. 2025/260, reg. 3, sch. Pt. 2

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/10/section/7ALocal Electoral Administration (Scotland) Act 2011An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish an Electoral Management Board for Scotland; to confer functions on the Electoral Commission in relation to local government elections; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-31Expert Participation2026-04-01Part 1Electoral Management Board for ScotlandPlanning and reporting on the Board’s functions
7AStrategic plans(1)

The Board must, at least 6 months before the start of a 5 year period, submit to the Parliamentary corporation a plan (referred to in this section as a “strategic plan”) setting out, for that 5 year period—

(a)

the Board’s strategic and policy priorities relating to those of its functions mentioned in section 1(3),

(b)

how it proposes to achieve them,

(c)

timetables for doing so, and

(d)

estimates of the costs of doing so.

(2)

The Parliamentary corporation—

(a)

must examine each strategic plan submitted to it,

(b)

must decide whether it is satisfied with the plan, and

(c)

if it is not so satisfied, may recommend such modifications to the plan as it considers appropriate.

(3)

Before deciding whether it is so satisfied or making any such recommendations, the Parliamentary corporation may provide the strategic plan to invite, and (if any are given) consider, comments on it from—

(a)

a committee of the Scottish Parliament, and

(b)

such other persons as the Parliamentary corporation consider appropriate.

(4)

The Parliamentary corporation must, as soon as reasonably practicable after concluding its examination and making its recommendations (if any) under subsection (2), report to the Board on its findings and recommendations.

(5)

After the Parliamentary corporation has reported to the Board under subsection (4), the Board must—

(a)

make whatever modifications to the strategic plan the Board consider necessary in light of the Parliamentary corporation’s findings and recommendations,

(b)

lay the plan before the Scottish Parliament, and

(c)

if the Board do not follow any of the Parliamentary corporation’s recommendations for modifications to the plan under this section, lay before the Scottish Parliament a document describing its reasons for so doing.

(6)

The Board may, at any time during the 5 year period to which a plan relates, review the strategic plan for that period and submit a revised plan to the Parliamentary corporation setting out the matters mentioned in subsection (1).

(7)

Subsections (2) to (5) apply to a revised plan submitted under subsection (6) as they apply to a strategic plan submitted under subsection (1).

(8)

In this section, “5 year period” means each period of 5 years beginning on the first day of the financial year following each ordinary local election (within the meaning of section 43(1C) of the Representation of the People Act 1983).