Beacon - Background Information

Shrewsbury and Atcham is a medium-sized borough, with an electorate of just over 74,000.  It has a mix of both urban and rural areas served by a combination of one and two member Wards. 

It has consistently high registration rates (over 99%) and election turnout rates (54.45% in 2003).  The Beacon judges considered that the results achieved for the size of Authority and resources available, were worthy of merit.

We believe that the key to elections is engagement with the public across the whole range of council services.  Both councillors and officers participate in a range of high profile events that provide opportunities to hold the council to account, consult with the public, and give the public opportunties to participate and shape policy ... and just to have fun!

We hold a variety of democratic events and activities throughout the year, including:-

• Question Time - based on the poplar BBC television programme
• The Shrewsbury Conference, where the public debates key issues
• Membership of over 70 outside bodies
• A high profile Mayor, who attends more than 200 events each year
• Active engagements with young persons through events such as "Teenage Kicks"
• Engagement with the Youth Parliament and helping to organise their annual poll for new representatives

The "whole council approach" extends directly into the "nuts and bolts" of election work.  For example, election employees inform the council tax department of movements into and within the district.  The council tax then compares this with its owen records and "rolling registration forms" are sent to people arriving in or moving within the district.  The sharing of this kind of information means that members of the public receive fewer letters from the council, as it is all contained within a single package.  Importantly, this approach enables us to ensure that both the council tax and electoral registers are as accurate and up-to-date as possible through the year.

The council innovates electoral processes.  It has actively participated in the Department for Constitutional Affairs Pilot Programme and has just completed its third pilot.  It also uses existing powers to improve electoral processes.  For example, we have previously used an online facility which enabled electors to check that their postal votes had been received (2006), as well as testing different methods of voting (2003), including early voting (2006 and 2007).  The council is lobbying for the knock-on changes needed as a result of these new and particularly extended methods of voting.  It continues to press for daily marked registers, so that political parties can entreat increased participation by targeting their canvassing to those who have not yet voted.