Wednesday 19 February 2014

The Ward List

The Ward List is a list of electors in the Ward, that is published annually by the Corporation of London. Only people on the Ward List are entitled to vote at the annual Wardmote, or at local precinct meetings convened by Common Councilmen, which in sum constitute our local mini-council, where resolutions can be passed at Wardmote or at precint-level that have to do with the governance of the ward.

The provisional Ward List is published by Guildhall, and a notice posted on the official Ward Noticeboard - which is outside St Botolph's Without Aldgate Church.

The Common Councilmen for the ward should then meet, to scrutinise the list to see if it is accurate, and to see who has not returned their forms. Residents of the Ward also have a right to view the provisional Ward List, for this purpose.

This year there appear to be a number of problems with the Ward list - they may or may not be - but what is certainly the case, is that prior to today, no Common Councilman or resident from our ward brought these queries to the attention of the Guildhall. 

Some problems seem to arise from duplicated entries.  One business had two names that seemed unfamiliar - I contacted that particular business, and the owner did not know who the people were, whose names were recorded as voters on the Ward list for his business. Thus, this particular business has lost its franchise in this election.

I doubt indeed that any residents in our ward even knew that the provisional list had been promulgated, or that there was a right of scrutiny. 

I propose that we need a committee, to meet annually soon after the date the provisional Ward List is published, to scrutinise the provisional ward List.

The committee could perhaps be chaired by the Ward Beadle, as it is his historic role (now pro forma, as the work is done by other officers at Guildhall) to compile a complete and accurate list of inhabitants of the ward. (Not voters mind you, but inhabitants, including children).

 Also on this committee would be at least one serving Common Councilman, a representative from each residents' or tenants' association, a representative of the Ward Club, and representative from any other group in the ward, for example, the Bengali Ladies' Group.

In this way, proper scrutiny of the Ward List can take place, at ward level. It is important for our local democracy that the Ward List should be accurate, and that as many residents as possible who have the franchise, register, so that they can exercise it.

Printed and promoted by Evan Philip Millner of 19b Petticoat Tower, Petticoat Square, City of London E1 7EF


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