The Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2021
Title and commencement1.
(1)
The title of this Order is the Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2021.
(2)
This Order comes into force on 19 March 2021.
Interpretation2.
In this Order—
“coronavirus” (“coronafeirws”) means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
“Senedd electoral regions” (“rhanbarthau etholiadol y Senedd”) are to be construed in accordance with section 2(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Revocation3.
Overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Senedd constituency election4.
The overall maximum amount a constituency returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd constituency election is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 1.
Maximum recoverable amount for services rendered at a contested Senedd constituency election5.
(1)
The total amount a constituency returning officer may recover for services rendered for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd constituency election must not exceed the amount listed for each constituency in column 2 of the table in Schedule 1.
(2)
Any services rendered must be for, or in connection with—
(a)
making arrangements for the election;
(b)
conducting the election;
(c)
discharging all of the constituency returning officer’s and electoral administrator’s duties in respect of the election.
Maximum recoverable amount for expenses incurred at a contested Senedd constituency election6.
(1)
The total amount a constituency returning officer may recover for expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd constituency election must not exceed—
(a)
the aggregate amount of column 3(a) and (b) in the table in Schedule 1;
(b)
in respect of standard expenses only, the total amount in column 3(a) in the table in Schedule 1;
(c)
in respect of coronavirus expenses only, the total amount in column 3(b) in the table in Schedule 1.
(2)
A returning officer may recover standard expenses incurred for, or in connection with—
(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.
(3)
A returning officer may recover expenses incurred as a result of the need to comply with an enactment relating to coronavirus or to follow guidance relating to coronavirus issued by the Welsh Ministers, including—
(a)
the appointment and payment of persons to assist with enforcing coronavirus regulations;
(b)
printing or otherwise producing coronavirus related signage;
(c)
personal protective equipment for persons assisting the constituency returning officer and electoral administrators;
(d)
additional cleaning products at the polling station and count venues;
(e)
additional costs associated with a need to extend the verification and count period due to coronavirus measures;
(f)
training on coronavirus regulations.
Overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Senedd regional election7.
The overall maximum amount a regional returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd regional election is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 2.
Maximum recoverable amount for services rendered at a contested Senedd regional election8.
(1)
The total amount a regional returning officer may recover for services rendered for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd regional election must not exceed the amount listed for each region in column 2 of the table in Schedule 2.
(2)
Any services rendered must be for, or in connection with—
(a)
making arrangements for the election;
(b)
conducting the election;
(c)
discharging all of the regional returning officer’s and electoral administrator’s duties in respect of the election.
Maximum recoverable amount for expenses incurred at a contested Senedd regional election9.
(1)
The total amount a regional returning officer may recover for expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd regional election must not exceed the amount listed for each region in column 3 of the table in Schedule 2.
(2)
Any expenses incurred must be for, or in connection with—
(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 of the other miscellaneous items.
Overall maximum recoverable amount for an uncontested Senedd constituency election10.
The overall maximum amount a constituency returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, an uncontested Senedd constituency election is £2,000.00 (two thousand pounds).
Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested Senedd regional election11.
The overall maximum amount a regional returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, an uncontested Senedd regional election is £500.00 (five hundred pounds).
SCHEDULE 1Total recoverable amounts for services rendered and expenses incurred at a contested Senedd constituency election
1. Senedd constituency | 2. Total amount for services rendered by electoral administrators | 3. Total amount for expenses incurred | 4. Overall maximum recoverable amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(a) Standard expenses | (b) Coronavirus related expenses | |||
Aberavon | £5,500 | £89,802 | £34,280 | £129,582 |
Aberconwy | £5,500 | £84,494 | £25,469 | £115,463 |
Alyn and Deeside | £5,500 | £92,571 | £28,577 | £126,648 |
Arfon | £5,500 | £72,411 | £30,241 | £108,152 |
Blaenau Gwent | £8,500 | £96,844 | £43,264 | £148,608 |
Brecon and Radnorshire | £5,500 | £115,649 | £54,345 | £175,494 |
Bridgend | £5,500 | £101,849 | £23,525 | £130,874 |
Caerphilly | £5,500 | £90,619 | £40,342 | £136,461 |
Cardiff Central | £4,000 | £104,942 | £32,114 | £141,056 |
Cardiff North | £4,000 | £116,467 | £36,027 | £156,494 |
Cardiff South and Penarth | £4,000 | £133,772 | £46,037 | £183,809 |
Cardiff West | £4,000 | £113,014 | £37,061 | £154,075 |
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr | £5,500 | £128,952 | £52,915 | £187,367 |
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire | £5,500 | £127,483 | £46,788 | £179,771 |
Ceredigion | £8,500 | £96,167 | £44,117 | £148,784 |
Clwyd South | £5,500 | £88,334 | £35,973 | £129,807 |
Clwyd West | £5,500 | £108,212 | £39,801 | £153,513 |
Cynon Valley | £4,500 | £69,232 | £29,003 | £102,735 |
Delyn | £5,500 | £94,692 | £34,769 | £134,961 |
Dwyfor Meirionnydd | £5,500 | £85,181 | £47,618 | £138,299 |
Gower | £4,500 | £86,872 | £33,987 | £125,359 |
Islwyn | £5,500 | £82,158 | £36,736 | £124,394 |
Llanelli | £5,500 | £117,654 | £41,205 | £164,359 |
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | £8,500 | £106,517 | £47,452 | £162,469 |
Monmouth | £8,500 | £119,225 | £52,863 | £180,588 |
Montgomeryshire | £5,500 | £75,890 | £38,869 | £120,259 |
Neath | £5,500 | £95,552 | £38,075 | £139,127 |
Newport East | £5,500 | £76,472 | £31,567 | £113,539 |
Newport West | £5,500 | £85,721 | £34,332 | £125,553 |
Ogmore | £5,500 | £96,521 | £31,272 | £133,293 |
Pontypridd | £4,500 | £81,640 | £33,924 | £120,064 |
Preseli Pembrokeshire | £5,500 | £127,309 | £48,611 | £181,420 |
Rhondda | £4,500 | £78,287 | £34,049 | £116,836 |
Swansea East | £4,500 | £82,483 | £29,868 | £116,851 |
Swansea West | £4,500 | £89,047 | £28,685 | £122,232 |
Torfaen | £8,500 | £103,341 | £44,374 | £156,215 |
Vale of Clwyd | £8,500 | £100,859 | £27,566 | £136,925 |
Vale of Glamorgan | £8,500 | £179,906 | £57,551 | £245,957 |
Wrexham | £5,500 | £75,840 | £24,604 | £105,944 |
Ynys Môn | £8,500 | £95,849 | £40,405 | £144,754 |
SCHEDULE 2Total recoverable amounts for services rendered and expenses incurred at a contested Senedd regional election
1. Senedd Electoral Region | 2. Total amount for services rendered by electoral administrators | 3. Total amount for expenses incurred | 4. Overall maximum recoverable amount |
|---|---|---|---|
Mid and West Wales | £2,500 | £17,528 | £20,028 |
North Wales | £2,500 | £18,795 | £21,295 |
South Wales Central | £2,500 | £20,665 | £23,165 |
South Wales East | £2,500 | £19,084 | £21,584 |
South Wales West | £2,500 | £16,364 | £18,864 |
This Order contains the maximum amounts a returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, the conduct of the Senedd Cymru election. This Order replaces and revokes the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/417) (W. 133).
The Senedd Cymru election is to be held on the same day as the election of Police and Crime Commissioners. Therefore all amounts have taken into account the provisions contained in article 16A of the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/236) (as inserted by the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/272)), which requires these amounts to be apportioned equally between the Senedd Cymru election and the election of Police and Crime Commissioners.
Articles 4, 5 and 6 of this Order specify the maximum amounts for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested constituency election. The amount recoverable for services rendered is concerned with electoral administration and the discharge of duties relating to the election by returning officers and electoral administrators. Expenses incurred differentiate between standard expenses and coronavirus related expenses. The amounts are listed in the table in Schedule 1.
Articles 7, 8 and 9 specify the maximum amounts for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested regional election. The amounts are listed in the table in Schedule 2.
Article 10 specifies the maximum amount for an uncontested constituency election, whereas article 11 specifies the maximum amount for an uncontested regional election.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and on the Welsh Government’s website at www.gov.wales.