The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Local Returning Officers’ and Police Area Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2016

Local returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses

5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6), the total of the charges recoverable by a local returning officer in respect of the expenses specified in paragraph (7) (“the expenses”) must not exceed the corresponding amount listed for each voting area in column 3 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) Where, in a voting area listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 2, the poll for an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners is taken together with the poll for an ordinary election of councillors (and no other), the total of the charges recoverable by the local returning officer in respect of the expenses must not exceed the amount listed for that area in column 3 of the table.

(3) Where, in a voting area listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 3, the poll for an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners is taken together with the poll for an election for the return of an elected mayor and the poll for an ordinary election of councillors (and no others), the total of the charges recoverable by the local returning officer in respect of the expenses must not exceed the amount listed for that area in column 3 of the table.

(4) Where, in the voting area listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 4, the poll for an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners is taken together with the poll for a governance referendum and the poll for an ordinary election of councillors (and no others), the total of the charges recoverable by the local returning officer in respect of the expenses must not exceed the amount listed for that area in column 3 of the table.

(5) Where, in a voting area listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5, the poll for an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners is taken together with the poll for a governance referendum (and no other), the total of the charges recoverable by the local returning officer in respect of the expenses must not exceed the amount listed for that area in column 3 of the table.

(6) Where, in a voting area listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 6, the poll for an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners is taken together with the poll at an Assembly general election (and no other), the total of the charges recoverable by the local returning officer in respect of the expenses must not exceed the amount listed for that area in column 3 of the table.

(7) The expenses specified are those incurred in—

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

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

(c) printing or otherwise producing the ballot paper;

(d) printing, or otherwise producing, or buying the postal vote stationery;

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

(f) printing, or otherwise producing, and where appropriate publishing, notices and any other documents required by an enactment for or in connection with the police and crime commissioner election;

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

(h) providing and transporting equipment;

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

(j) providing for the safekeeping and security of ballot papers (including, where necessary, the secure storage of ballot boxes) and any verification documents kept by the returning officer;

(k) conducting the verification of ballot paper accounts and the count;

(l) providing and receiving training;

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