MSPs call for an end to returning officer payments

Ballot box - Picture credit: PA

Extra payments made to returning officers for administering polls and elections should end, according to a parliamentary report.

According to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee, the current system lacks transparency and could impact on people’s views on the integrity of the system.

The findings came after an inquiry into payments made to returning officers in Scotland.

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Committee convener Bob Doris MSP said: “Our committee has found that the current system of payments to returning officers is lacking transparency, which could have an impact on people’s views on the integrity of the system.

“There is a lack of transparency around the value of these payments and how they are allocated, however we heard that payments can range from £2,500 in Orkney and Shetland to over £16,000 in Edinburgh and may reportedly be worth as much £1 million in total.

“We believe that all costs associated with elections should be processed around the principles of openness and transparency if the public are to have confidence in how our elections are run.”

Looking at the independence and role of returning officers, the committee recognised the high level of personal responsibility placed on returning officers during the election period and acknowledged the hard work and commitment shown by them.

“We believe it is vital that this personal responsibility remains to ensure appropriate levels of accountability,” it concluded.

The committee also agreed that the role should remain independent and outwith political control in order to maintain confidence in those carrying it out.

The inquiry said the processes of appointing returning officers and their roles should be reviewed and any review should take into account the fees already available to them to remunerate election staff, the frequency of and routineness of carrying out elections and pressure on resources elsewhere in local authorities.

It stated: “We recognise that the Scottish Government has already confirmed that it is committed to consulting on electoral reform in 2016-17, given new powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2016 over the conduct of Scottish Parliamentary elections and electoral registration.

“We therefore recommend that the Scottish Government considers the role and remuneration of returning officers as part of its review.”