Fees paid to Returning Officers for Manchester parliamentary seats

The request was refused by Manchester City Council.

Nicholas James Prescott

Dear Manchester City Council,

I would like to request information on the fees, wages or expenses provided to Returning Officers and Electoral Register Officers for the parliamentary seats in Manchester for 2019, 2017 and 2015 General Elections.

I also request information on the fees, wages or expenses provided to Returning Officers and Electoral Register Officers for the 2016 Brexit referendum, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and European elections since 2015 for the constituencies in Manchester.

Yours faithfully,

Nicholas Prescott

Information Compliance, Manchester City Council

Dear Nicholas
Re: Request for Information - Reference No: PEO / BL8E76
Thank you for your request for information received by Manchester City
Council on 26 January 2020.
Please note that it may take up to 20 working days ( 21 February 2020) for
the Council to consider your request and to provide a formal response.   
If this timescale needs to be extended to consider an exemption you will
be notified and kept informed. 
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. 
Yours sincerely
Jerry Frys
Democratic Services
PO Box 532
Town Hall
Manchester
M60 2LA
Email:  [1][MCC request email]
Website:  [2]www.manchester.gov.uk

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Electoral Services Unit, Manchester City Council

Dear Mr Prescott,
Re: Request for Information - PEO / BL8E76
Thank you for your request for information, which was received by
Manchester City Council on 26 January 2020.
In your request, you asked for the following information:-  
I would like to request information on the fees, wages or expenses
provided to Returning Officers and Electoral Register Officers for the
parliamentary seats in Manchester for 2019, 2017 and 2015 General
Elections.

I also request information on the fees, wages or expenses provided to
Returning Officers and Electoral Register Officers for the 2016 Brexit
referendum, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and European elections
since 2015 for the constituencies in Manchester.  
This information  is held by the (Acting) Returning Officer for the
Manchester constituencies, not Manchester City Council.  
I would like to draw your attention to the distinction between the roles
of the local authority and those of the (Acting) Returning Officer. The
role of the (Acting) Returning Officer for Manchester constituencies is
separate from that of the Chief Executive of the local authority and the
responsibilities and duties associated with the former roles are personal
to the postholder. A list of public bodies and local authorities that are
subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is available
at the following website:  :
[1]http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...

As you will see, the Freedom of Information Act does not list any person
appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (or related
electoral legislation). It follows that the Electoral Registration
Officer, (Acting) Returning Officer, Returning Officer or any other person
appointed under the 1983 Act (or related electoral legislation) are not
subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act so I am
therefore unable to assist you with these requests.
If you are not satisfied with this response you may ask for an internal
review. If you wish to complain you should contact
the Information Compliance Team, whose address is Democratic Services,
Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA and
email [2][MCC request email]

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Regards
Clare Travers-Wilkins
Electoral Services Manager
___________________________________________
The way we all register to vote has changed. 
YOUR VOTE MATTERS - DON'T LOSE IT 
[3]https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

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