03.10.2016
Payments received by electoral Returning Officers are to be examined by the Local Government and Communities Committee.
The Committee will examine, over two meetings in November, how the system for the payments works in practice and consider their appropriateness.
Returning Officers are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of elections at a local, national and European level, as well as referendums. Returning Officer duties are usually undertaken by council Chief Executives duties on top of their usual duties.
MSPs will hear from experts in electoral law and key local government stakeholders, including the Electoral Reform Society, trade unions and academics, as well as Returning Officers.
Bob Doris MSP, Convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee, said:
“Understandably there is public concern around additional payments – reportedly worth £1 million in the last two years – being made to already well-paid office holders.
“The level of payment varies for different elections and different councils, and we’re also aware some Returning Officers claim their payment, while others share payments with their staff. We want to find out more about how these payments operate, what their uptake is and whether they remain appropriate.”