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AGM Conference & ExhibitionHilton Metropole Hotel, BlackpoolOfficial Programme 2012

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Conference Programme 2012Sunday 29 January 2012

3.30pm Registration – The Royal Foyer, Hilton Hotel

4.30pm Exhibition wine reception – Queens Suite

6.00pm Conference Opener – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Kath Richards, Speakers: Prof Colin Rallings & Prof Michael Thrasher (University of Plymouth)

7.30pm Supper – Promenade Restaurant and Lancaster Suite

Monday 30 January 2012

8.45am Visit exhibition stands – Queens Suite

9.15am Individual Electoral Registration – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Clive Joynes, Speakers: Colin Dingwall (Cabinet Office), John Turner (AEA), Jenny Watson (Electoral Commission)

and Robert Connelly (Birmingham City Council)

10.00am Parliamentary Boundary Review – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Neil Middlehurst, Speaker: Tony Bellringer (Boundary Commission for England) and Martin O’Loughlin (South

Ribble Borough Council)

10.30am Coffee – exhibition area, Queens Suite

11.15am Workshops – Hilton Hotel

12.45pm Lunch – Promenade Restaurant and Lounge area

1.45pm Workshops – Hilton Hotel

3.15pm Tea – exhibition area, Queens Suite

4.00pm Experian and the missing millions – Royal Suite

Session Leader: George Cooper, Speaker: Patrick Gray (Experian)

4.45pm Visit exhibition stands – Queens Suite

5.15pm Close

Tuesday 31 January 2012




11.30am Election Fees & Charges – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Bill Crawford, Speakers: Mark Heath (Southampton City Council) and Paul Docker (Cabinet Office)

12.15pm Reform of Electoral Law – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Karen Quaintmere, Speaker: Frances Patterson QC (Law Commission)

12.30pm Keynote Speech – Royal Suite

Session Leader: John Turner, Speaker: Mark Harper MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, Cabinet Office




4.00pm Data Matching pilot schemes – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Darren Whitney, Speakers: Louise Stamp (LB Tower Hamlets), Julian Bassham (LB Southwark), Alasdair

MacTaggart (Renfrewshire VJB) and Mark Hughes (Cabinet Office)


5.15pm Close

Wednesday 1 February 2012

9.15am Annual General Meeting – Royal Suite

9.30am Police & Crime Commissioner Elections – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Lynda Murlewski, Speakers: Stephen Kershaw (Home Office), Andrew Scallan (Electoral Commission), Dave

Smith (Sunderland City Council) and Melvyn Humphreys (Telford & Wrekin Council)

10.30am Coffee – Royal Foyer

11.00am Close of Conference

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Association of Electoral Administrators back to

Blackpool this year for their Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel.

We have had the pleasure of welcoming you to Blackpool for many years now, and on behalf of

the Council and the people of Blackpool, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all your

delegates and exhibitors.

I hope you will also have some time to go and see the improvements that have been made in

our town over the last twelve months and both the Mayoress and I look forward to seeing you all

at your Annual Dinner on Monday 30th January.

Councillor Joan Greenhalgh

Mayor

Annual Conference & Exhibition Programme 2012

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Message from the Mayor of Blackpool,

Councillor Joan Greenhalgh

Chief Executive’sForewordIt appears that I start every one of these

Conference forewords by saying that the past 12

months have been challenging for one or more

reasons. Much as I would like to break the trend, I

am afraid that it would be difficult to do so given

the past 12 months that we have experienced. The

challenges of the AV Referendum with the effect of

combination in some areas in May were keenly

felt. This led to probably our most comprehensive

post election report which, along with the 2010

report, was welcomed by the Government. We

used a session at last year’s National Seminar in

September to look back at the events of May to

see what lessons could be learnt and other sessions

to look forward at the changes and challenges that will present themselves as a result of having

to implement the legislative programme of reform being proposed by the coalition Government.

The programme for the Annual Conference repeats that approach.

The interesting programme for our “silver celebration” Annual Conference will hopefully provide

you with much to consider as we confront these changes, possible or otherwise, with the constant

backdrop of the transition to individual electoral registration and the 2015 General Election never

far from our thoughts. For these reasons, the programme has been prepared on the basis of

providing you with as much information as possible about the many changes that will or could be

faced in the registration of electors and the conduct of elections over the next 12 months or so.

The agenda for the future and the work and change that it brings with it is daunting to say the

least. I have never known such a period of change in such a short time and, once this programme

is complete, electoral administration will be very different from that which it was when the AEA

was founded just 25 years ago. Clearly, such significant change, together with the overall situation

facing local government and, in particular, its resources, will have a lasting effect on those who

work within electoral administration in this country. We have been heavily involved in working

with the Cabinet Office, the Electoral Commission and several other Government departments in

preparing for what lies ahead. We may not always agree with each other but the mere fact that

we have a seat at the table means that we cannot be ignored and speaks volumes for the

progress we have made and the reputation that we have earned.


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As usual, the Conference Working Party under the careful leadership of James Stevens has worked

extremely hard behind the scenes in making the arrangements for this Annual Conference. The

members of the team know that we have much to live up to when we consider past successes

and we constantly strive to improve year on year. I am always surprised at how much detail goes

into putting together the Conference programme and making the many and varied arrangements

which represent the very professional way in which this event is now presented and I would want

to place on record my appreciation of the efforts made by all those involved in the planning and

delivery of the Conference including the speakers at the plenary sessions and the trainers

responsible for the delivery of the workshops.

The changes which we make each year are based largely on the feedback we receive about the

previous Conference. The Working Party spends some time in learning from that feedback

including building on our strengths and seeking to rectify our weaknesses. Please make sure that

you complete your questionnaire this year.

The Association has again had a challenging year but, I believe, we are stronger for it and are

continuing to make a difference at a national level although there is still much to do. Equally, the

challenges facing the profession as a whole and our members individually are more intense than

they were a year ago. We will continue to strive to ensure that electoral administration in this

country is of the highest quality and that it provides a level of confidence and trust that the public

should both expect and deserve.

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the 25th Annual Conference of the AEA and that you will take

full opportunity of what it has to offer. I also hope that you will leave Blackpool feeling

reinvigorated and refreshed and that what you take away from this Conference will leave you

ready to face whatever lies ahead in terms of improving this cornerstone of the democratic

process. Our aim over the next 12 months will be to continue and to enhance the support that the

AEA has provided to its members over the past 25 years.

John Turner – Chief ExecutiveJanuary 2012


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Chairman’s WelcomeIt is my pleasure to welcome you to Blackpool for

the AEA’s 25th Annual Conference.

This is a huge milestone to reach and I am pleased

to be able to share the celebrations with you. Who

would have thought that following an initial idea in

1987, we would now have a membership base of

over 1600. Incidently, there are 32 of our current

members who joined the AEA back in 1987.

25 years is a fantastic achievement and I hope that

you are as proud of this milestone as are I and the

other members of the Management Team.

Now back to 2012! I would particularly like to

thank those who have worked tirelessly behind the

scenes to make this conference a success. The

Conference Working Party work hard to ensure that we all have a successful conference year on

year. I also wish to thank those colleagues who will be running workshop and plenary sessions for

their input into making the sessions as interesting and varied as they can. Having been a trainer

involved in workshops at conference, I know what it involves and the hard work and dedication of

the trainers will ensure that you come away from the session challenged, amused and hopefully

reassured.

Next year is going to be challenging to all of us in varying degrees. Hopefully the plenary sessions

and workshops will point you in the right direction to be able to deal with these. One thing about

Conference which is invaluable is the networking, making new friends and meeting colleagues

whom you can call on if you ever need to ask for advice or guidance.

It has been an honour to be your Chairman over the last year, and I will be truly sad to give up

the role. I wish the new incumbent Martin John every success in his year ahead. He has been a

great support to me throughout the year and I wish him well in his year as Chairman.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Stanyon, the immediate Past Chairman, for

his support and guidance over the last three years, not only to myself but the Board and

Management Team. His contribution to meetings will be severely missed and it’s a great loss that

he will no longer be involved nationally.


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I would finally like to thank the officers of the Association, who do a great job behind the scenes

ensuring that all members are fairly represented on a national and local level. We are in

extremely testing times and the Association is in a great position to continue to develop and grow

and offer support to all its members.

Finally, I hope you enjoy Conference and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible

over the next few days.

Kath Richards, Chairman

List of current members who joined in 1987Name Employed By At Conference

Alex Evans Retired

Andrew Scallan Electoral Commission Attending

Barry Rowbotham Retired

Brian Pearson Retired

Brian Smith AEA Attending

Bryan Siswell Retired

Charles Lasham IFES

Christine Mason Retired Attending

Craig Morse Taunton Deane

Elfyn Williams Retired

Gina Armstrong AEA Attending

Jean Warren Retired

John Walker Retired

Judith Swarbrick Barrow In Furness

Karen Birdsall Harrogate

Keith Porter Retired

Lesley Hales AEA Attending

Malcolm Dennett Retired

Malcolm Dumper Retired

Marcia Beviere Vale of White Horse

Michael Bentley Merton Attending

Nigel Buttler Retired Attending

Nigel Spilsbury Plymouth

Peter Dungate Reigate & Banstead

Philip Thompson Consultant

Richard Robinson Retired

Rod Tuck AEA President

Roderick Bedgar Retired

Roger Titterton Retired

Susan Convery Carmarthenshire

Trevor Spall Retired

Valerie Solomon Retired


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Plenary Sessions

1. “Monty and Brian Go Mad…Voting”The video stars of last year’s conference return to explore the siting of polling stations;alphabetic bias on ballot papers; and how to vote in police commissioner elections.

Kath Richards

Kath has worked in local government on and off since 1986. She stumbledinto electoral registration when an opportunity arose to become an ElectionsAdministrator at Winchester City Council in 2002 and she did this with muchtrepidation! Surprisingly, she found the job very rewarding and enjoyable andfinally was promoted to Electoral Services Manager in 2004. In April 2008,she became the Principal Elections Officer at Southampton City Council.Since working there she has been actively involved in the running of theEuropean elections, assisting Mark Heath from Southampton who was theRegional Returning Officer for the South East Region and also during the AVReferendum in 2011. She is currently the Chairman of the AEA, is anaccredited trainer and is a member of the Elections, Referendums andRegistration Working Group.

Professor Colin Rallings

Colin is Professor of Politics and Director of the Elections Centre at theUniversity of Plymouth.

He and Michael Thrasher spoke at the first AEA conference and now return,older but no wiser, for the 25th anniversary.

In the intervening quarter of a century (!) they have built both a public andacademic reputation for their documentation and analysis of elections andelectoral behaviour.

The 27th annual edition of the Local Elections Handbook was published lastyear, and they have begun work on a new edition of the Media Guide to theNew Parliamentary Constituencies which will enable broadcastingorganisations and others to calculate swing, change etc following thecompletion of the current review of constituency boundaries. Another newventure is a fortnightly review of local by-elections for the Local GovernmentAssociation’s first magazine.


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Professor Michael Thrasher

Michael is Professor of Politics and Director of the Elections Centre at theUniversity of Plymouth. The Centre, established in the early 1980s, hasestablished a reputation for its collation and analysis of aggregate UKelection data including local, parliamentary and European parliamentelections as well as those to the new devolved institutions. Additionally, theCentre compiles data on local council by-elections and national polling whichare used for electoral forecasting. As well as the academic research, he haswritten articles for the national press, including the Sunday Times, since1986 and for the past twenty two years has been the elections analyst forSky News Broadcasting.

2. Individual Electoral RegistrationFind out the latest information from the Cabinet Office on when and how this will beimplemented. Will registration be optional or compulsory? What about some extra funding?How will the annual canvass work in 2014? Hear the views of AEA representatives andelectoral administrators who are involved in the transformation programme and take theopportunity to raise your queries with those closely involved in the programme.

Clive Joynes

Clive is the Elections and Local Land Charges Manager for the Isle of WightCouncil, a position he has held for six years, having been at the authoritysince 2002. Prior to working in local government he was employed as amanager in the news distribution and retail industries. Recently, Clive hasserved on the Individual Electoral Registration Business Change Project EROExpert Panel for the Cabinet Office.

He holds the AEA Diploma in Electoral Administration and is due to completea Foundation Degree in Local Government studies this summer. By 2015 theIsle of Wight’s claim to be the numerically largest constituency in the UK willbe a thing of the past – the only consolation being that it will be replaced bythe two smallest constituencies in England.

Clive is married with five children, a school governor, and the organiser ofthe local Morris Minor Owners Club rally, which is only marginally easier toorganise than a Parliamentary election!

Colin Dingwall

Colin has been Programme Director for the Electoral RegistrationTransformation Programme since April 2010. Prior to this he has carried out anumber of roles including policy implementation and delivery. He was theHead of Performance and Delivery in the Department for Communities andLocal Government, overseeing delivery of the department’s portfolio of highrisk projects and programmes. Before this he was head of Civil Partnershipimplementation, leading the development of policy, delivery of legislation


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and then implementation of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in local authoritiesacross the whole of the United Kingdom. Prior to joining the civil service in2000, he worked in Westminster and in the Scottish Parliament. Colin is agraduate of Edinburgh University in Politics and Modern History and iscurrently studying (part time!) for a Masters in Public Policy andManagement at Birkbeck College, London.

John Turner, Chief Executive, Life Vice-President and Chairman of the Qualifications & Examining Boards

John retired in October 2003 as Deputy Chief Executive at Norwich CityCouncil. He was Returning Officer for the City and, in that capacity, ranvarious pilot elections including two full electronic pilots. He has beeninvolved in elections for nearly 30 years and has been involved in training inthis area of work for the last 25 years or so. John is Chief Executive and LifeVice-President of the Association of Electoral Administrators and was amember of the Howarth Working Party on Electoral Procedures whichprovided the recommendations leading to the range of reforms to Britain'selectoral system since 1997. He is also the Chairman of the AEA'sQualification and Examining Boards. He has had considerable experience ininternational electoral matters and has worked in various countries in fourcontinents of the world. He is also involved with a number of other publicbodies with interests in democratic and electoral matters.

Jenny Watson

Jenny’s working life has been spent in the public and not for profit sector.As well as being the second Chair of the Electoral Commission, she iscurrently a board member of the charity Money Advice Trust, which runsNational Debtline/Business Debtline. She is also a trustee of the CharitiesAid Foundation.

Jenny was the last Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission prior to thecreation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. She was theEOC’s Deputy Chair for five years before that, and is a past Deputy Chairmanof both the Banking Code Standards Board and of the Committee onRadioactive Waste Management.

In 2004 she was a founding director of Global Partners and Associates,leaving to take on the role of Chair at the EOC. She has also worked in anumber of human rights organisations, including Liberty and Charter88.


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Robert Connelly

Robert is currently the Head of Electoral Services at Birmingham City Councilas well as a senior solicitor within its legal services department. Prior tojoining the elections team in 2009, Robert specialised in Insolvency,injunctive proceedings and commercial litigation, which also involvedworking closely with Regulatory Services across the country and with theOffice of Fair Trading on the implementation of new legislation.

In recent years he has spent a considerable amount of time dealing withelection law particularly in relation to allegations of electoral fraud. He hasbeen the lead lawyer on various election petitions that have been issued inBirmingham.

As part of his role as Head of Electoral Services, he is also the DeputyReturning Officer for Birmingham and was also appointed as the DeputyRegional Returning/Counting Officer for the 2009 European Election and the2011 AV Referendum. He is also a member of the Elections, Referendumsand Registration Working Group.

Robert is also a very keen (and frustrated) Aston Villa season ticket holder,although in recent seasons he has tended to talk less and less about hishome team.

3. Parliamentary Boundary ReviewFind out the latest position on this important review, consider the practical effects on printingand publishing the register of electors and hear some tips on successful cross-boundaryworking.

Neil Middlehurst

Neil has worked in local government since 1983 at West Lancashire DC. Hisfirst election was in 1984 when he was a poll clerk in a very non accessiblecaravan!

Neil moved to Sefton Council in 1997 and became Head of Electoral Servicesin 2003. For anyone not knowing where Sefton is, well it is north ofLiverpool and home to Aintree Racecourse and Royal Birkdale Golf Club. In2004, ahead of the all-postal elections in the North West, Neil was part ofthe group that brought together the joint working partnership acrossMerseyside. The Merseyside Electoral Administration Team, or MEAT as weprefer.

Neil was elected as Vice–Chairman of the North West Branch of the AEA in2008 and was elected to the Chair in 2009. Neil also chairs the Strand UserGroup, a position he had held for six years.

Away from the office Neil is married with two boys, Sam and Harry. Neilhas recently hung up his cricket boots after 27 years and has various jointpains to show for it. Neil spends his spare time coaching kids football, andhas had a lifetime love affair with Liverpool Football Club.


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Tony Bellringer

Tony has over a decade of involvement with elections and the AEA. Startingat the then DETR in 2000, with local mayoral referendums and elections, hewas seconded to the Electoral Commission 2002 – 2004 as a Policy Manager,where he ran the review of the minimum voting age and established theirNew Initiatives Fund. On return to the then ODPM, he took on the COREproject, including taking through the legislation that formed Part 1 of theElectoral Administration Act 2006. In 2006 he moved to head the Boundariesand Conduct of Elections team in DCA/MoJ, where, amongst other things, he led the work on the regulations and implementation of new measures to tighten security around postal voting.

After a three year loan out of the world of elections (appointing judges tothe courts of England and Wales), Tony has returned as Deputy Secretary tothe Boundary Commission for England, where he is a member of the seniormanagement team supporting Commissioners in the delivery of independentreviews under the recently amended Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986.

Martin O’Loughlin

Martin is currently the Democratic Services Manager at South Ribble BoroughCouncil where, amongst other duties, he fulfils the role of Deputy ReturningOfficer and Deputy Electoral Registration Officer. Martin started his localgovernment career in 1970 at the London Borough of Islington where he didhis first poll clerk duty at a local government election in 1971. He startedrunning elections at Fylde Borough Council in 1982, and was DeputyReturning Officer at each election at Chorley from 1992 to 2007. At Chorley,as Head of Customer, Democratic and Office Support Services he was alsoresponsible for the successful delivery of the election pilots in 2002 (allpostal and electronic counting) and 2003 (all postal internet and telephonevoting and electronic counting). He is a past Secretary of the North WestBranch of the AEA.


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4. Experian and the missing millionsAfter thinking for all this time that credit reference agencies are the bane of our lives it turnsout they are our friends and could help us achieve a more accurate and comprehensiveregister! This session will explore how external datasets and matching techniques couldidentify, by geography and socio-demographics, gaps and inconsistencies in the Register, andconsider appropriate engagement strategies to address the "missing millions".

George Cooper

George has managed Electoral Services at the London Borough of Haringeyfor the last five years and chairs the London Branch of the AEA. Pastexperience includes four years as Manager at Stoke-on-Trent and Secretaryof the West Midlands Branch. He is a member of the AEA Board and of theElectoral Commission’s Elections, Referendums and Registration WorkingGroup.

He worked on some fourteen annual canvasses in inner urban areas beforebecoming an elections manager so has a keen appreciation of just howhard-won a good canvass return can be.

Patrick Gray

Patrick heads-up customer insight within Experian’s Public Sector team. He ispassionate about using geo-demographic techniques in transforminggovernment services, through a closer and more insightful alignment of‘people’ with ‘place’. This helps service delivery efficiencies through tacklingfraud and error and tailoring engagement strategies, whilst moving awayfrom the traditional 'one size fits all' approach.

Patrick enjoys the paradoxes and challenges of socio and geographic analysis– the brand conscious supermarket shopper ignoring conventional wisdomabout convenience, choice and price, the actual charitable donation thatsomewhat belies a stated intention, or the recycling advocate reluctant togive up their 4x4 and European weekends. Using all available data, analysisand insight is paramount in understanding the context behind behavioursand in ‘nudging’ people into desirable outcomes.

With a strong background in customer insight, location planning andmarketing activities for Whitehall, Town Halls and the High Street, Patrick hasworked at Experian for over 10 years. Outside work his passions includecycling, rugby and the Peak District. Paradoxically, whilst balancing the booksfor his local church he is also a successful poker player.


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5. Election fees and chargesWe’ve had a new “flexible” system of accounting for Government fundedelections/referendums for a couple of years. Is it better for the Election Claims Unit? Is itbetter for administrators?

What about the fees paid to Returning Officers and core elections team staff? Everyoneneeds to be careful when dealing with these personal payments.

Bill Crawford OBE

Bill is currently Head of Electoral Services at Sunderland City Council and isalso the Executive Director (Commercial) of the AEA.

A career Local Government Officer, Bill has worked in electoral services inthe North East of England since 1969 and has worked for Sunderland CityCouncil since November 1975.

Bill joined the AEA in 1988 and has been a member of theseminar/conference working party since the Scarborough conference in1989.

Mark Heath

Mark is a solicitor and has worked in local government his entire career (outof choice).

Mark joined Southampton City Council in 1990 from Hampshire CountyCouncil, and is the Director of Corporate Services at Southampton.

Mark has been the Returning Officer at Southampton since 1994. He was theRegional Returning Officer for the South East Region for the EuropeanElections in 2009, and the Regional Counting Officer for the same region forthe AV Referendum last year. Mark represents SOLACE on the Police & CrimeCommissioners panel, working with the Home Office and others on theprimary and secondary legislation. He also sits on various other committeesand bodies dealing with electoral issues.

Paul Docker OBE

Paul has worked within the legislative, courts and policy areas of centralGovernment for over 20 years. He has worked directly on electronicinnovations for issue of court proceedings and legislative information portalsbefore moving to the Electoral Policy Division in August 2003. Paul led thework on the June 2004 all-postal pilots before taking on the overall ElectoralModernisation Programme in April 2005. Since then Paul has held a numberof roles that have focused on the strategic, policy and legislative areas ofdevelopment and is currently Head of Electoral Administration in theElections & Democracy Division which is now part of the Constitution Groupwithin the Cabinet Office.


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6. Reform of electoral law – Law CommissionAnd about time too! Wouldn’t it be useful to have all electoral law consolidated andunambiguous – that’ll never happen will it? What would it involve? How can we help?When will it start and how long might it take? Frances Patterson QC, Law Commissioner, willanswer all these questions.

Karen Quaintmere

Karen's experience in electoral administration started on the Isle of Wightwhen she joined the elections office full time in 2000, and at the same timebecame a Member of the Association.

Having also gained valuable experience with the team at Southampton CityCouncil at the elections, Karen joined the Electoral Commission in 2002.During her time at the Electoral Commission, Karen’s responsibilities includedleading the Commission's work across the full range of electoraladministration issues, including guidance, electoral policy and integrity.

As Assistant Chief Executive of the AEA, Karen is largely responsible for theAssociation's policy and development portfolio, including elections andreferendums reports, and responses to the many policy consultations during2010 and 2011. Karen is a keen advocate of the reform of electoral lawhaving highlighted the complexity of the legislative framework as a keyissue for electoral administrators.

Frances Patterson Q.C.

Frances took up her post as Commissioner responsible for Public Law withthe Law Commission for England and Wales on the 1st January 2010.

She started practice at the Bar in Manchester. During her practice shespecialised in planning, environmental and public law. She took silk in 1998.She became Head of Kings Chambers, in Manchester and Leeds in 2004 andwas Head of their Public Law Department. She was made a Bencher ofMiddle Temple in 2005. In the same year she was appointed to chair anIndependent Inquiry into the killing of a 5 year old girl by her mentallydisturbed mother. She sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court and as a DeputyHigh Court Judge. She is Consultant Editor and contributor to ‘Judicial Review:Law and Practice’ published by Jordans.

At the Law Commission she is leading law reform projects on electoral law,wildlife, taxis and private hire vehicles, the regulation of health careprofessionals, level crossings and data sharing. She is responsible for thecompleted projects on adult social care and ombudsmen.


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7. Keynote speech

Mark Harper MP

Mark Harper is Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean.

In Opposition, the Minister was Shadow Minister for Defence (December2005-July 2007) and Shadow Minister for Disabled People (July 2007-May2010).

The Minister grew up in Swindon, where he attended Headlands School andSwindon College. He went on to Brasenose College, Oxford and graduated in1991 with Upper Second-Class Honours in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

The Minister qualified in 1995 as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and,until 2002, worked for Intel Corporation in a variety of roles includingfinance, business operations and marketing before establishing his ownchartered accountancy practice in the Forest of Dean. He also served as aGovernor at Newent Community School from November 2000 to July 2005.

He is married to Margaret and they live in Newham Bottom in hisconstituency.

Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, keeping fit (including taking longwalks with his two Labradors) and cinema.


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8. Data matching pilot schemesFor IER to work efficiently and effectively we need to be able to match records with otherpublic databases. Over 20 pilot schemes are in progress. Is everything going to plan? Whatare the challenges and which ones are working? Those involved (in England and Scotland)will give an insight to what the future may hold for you.

Darren Whitney

Darren is Democratic Services Manager at Stratford on Avon District Council,which involves taking the lead on electoral administration, committeeservices, overview and scrutiny, elected member training and electedmember support. He is also Deputy Returning Officer. He has been involvedin electoral administration since 1998.

Stratford on Avon DC has participated in electoral pilots since their beginningsin 2000 and Darren has taken a lead on several including internet voting,electronic kiosk voting and electronic counting. Darren has also led on therecent data matching pilot at Stratford; matching data from DWP and the MoD.

Darren is the current chair of the West Midlands Branch. Outside of work helikes hill walking, travel (recently returned from Ethiopia) and the odd drinkwith a meal (or after an election).

The photo shows Darren’s efforts during the ‘Movember’ charity month.

Louise Stamp

Louise has worked in Local Government for the past 31 years, 11 of those inElectoral Services. She managed the Telecommunications service for LondonBorough of Lewisham until she was thrown in at the deep end and asked tomanage a UK Parliamentary election in 2001, when a vacancy arose.

In 2006, Louise spent a year on secondment to the Ministry of Justice wereshe assisted the MoJ with the legislation and design of forms for theElectoral Administration Act 2006. Then, in 2007, after 27 years withLewisham Council, Louise moved on to London Borough of Tower Hamlets asthe Electoral Services Manager.

Louise has been involved in many pilot schemes – early voting at shoppingcentres, all postal voting and now data matching with DWP and otherGovernment databases.


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Julian Bassham

Julian is the Electoral Services Manger at the London Borough of Southwark.He has worked in electoral services since a badly timed walk past acommittee room in 2006 saw him become involved in a postal vote openingand has not looked back since. Prior to this he worked in local governmentin various member support and committee roles after graduating fromLancaster University. Born and raised in Somerset, Julian now lives in southwest London with his wife and two children (number three on the way anddue just in time to vote at the GLA elections).

Alasdair MacTaggart

Alasdair is the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer for the areacomprising Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board and has been in post since 1April 2007.

Prior to this he was a Divisional Assessor with the Joint Board and, beforethat, with Strathclyde Regional Council. Earlier appointments were inLanarkshire and Glasgow Sub-Regions of Strathclyde Regional Council. AsAssessor and ERO, Alasdair is a Chartered Surveyor and a Fellow of the RICS.A graduate of Paisley College of Technology, he has a BSc in Land Economics.

Alasdair is the current Secretary to the Scottish Assessors Association. Otherrecent appointments include Senior Responsible Officer for The ScottishAssessors Association Web Portal and the SAA representative on theOneScotland Gazetteer Board.

Recently retired from service spanning 30 years with the Royal NavalReserve, Alasdair maintains an interest through the Reserve Forces andCadets Association and Haig Housing Trust.

Mark Hughes

Head of operational delivery for the Electoral Registration TransformationProgramme. Responsibilities include:

Registration improvements – increasing the opportunity to apply to join theelectoral register – channel shift and integration into other services

Data matching pilots – testing the usefulness of public authority data tosupport the work of electoral services

The IT strategy to provide the IT architecture that will enable theimplementation of individual electoral registration

Business design – designing, testing and implementing the change to theprocess that will enable individual electoral registration


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9. Police and Crime Commissioner electionsIt’s on, it’s off, it’s on again, it’s delayed ‘til November! Well by this time we should allunderstand how SV works in the polling stations and (crucially) at the count – so thereshouldn’t really be any need for this session. But because, in our world, things don’t alwaysseem to go to plan (is the secondary legislation in place yet?) we’ve scheduled this sessionso we can go through any queries in detail with all the big players so you can clarify any“known unknowns” before we go any further.

Lynda Murlewski

Following a ‘family’ career break, Lynda joined the Electoral Services team atGuildford Borough Council in September 2001 as a temp helping out withthe annual canvass, never expecting to stay very long………….

In June 2005 she became Electoral Services Manager and in December 2009was elected Chairman of the South East Branch of the AEA. After achievingthe AEA Certificate, Lynda has successfully mentored 4 trainees and the fifthstarted in February 2011. Consequently, Guildford Borough Council is nowknown to John Turner as the ‘training cradle’ of the AEA.

Lynda has a degree in Business Studies which was sponsored by Quaker OatsLtd. “Marketing Sugar Puffs isn’t so different from marketing ElectoralServices really. It’s still all a matter of getting your customers to engagewith the product or service. Moving from the private to the public sectorwas somewhat more of a shock!”

Lynda is a member of Rock Choir (the largest contemporary choir in the UKwith over 7,000 members) which has obtained a considerable amount of TVcoverage lately when they featured in a 3 part TV documentary on ITV.Singing at Wembley Arena was exciting but don’t ask her to do a solo –she’s in it for the choir and won’t be giving up the day job just yet!

Stephen Kershaw

Stephen is developing, implementing and communicating the Government’sstrategic programme for police reform.

He has specific responsibility for:

• strengthening local accountability and transparency in policing, in particularthrough directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and street levelcrime data

• police value for money and workforce productivity

• police pay and pensions, responding to the Winsor and Hutton Reviews

• cutting bureaucracy in policing

• police leadership and professional development, including the new policeprofessional body, and police equality and diversity

• local policing, protective services work and public order policing


Page 17

• police engagement with the criminal justice system

• the Home Office’s relationship with ACPO, APA, the Met and HMIC

• leading and managing Policing Directorate, and contributing to thecorporate success of Crime and Policing Group and the Home Office.

He joined the Home Office in 2007 after 20 years in the civil service. His recentposts include a secondment to Manchester City Council (2000-2001) as jointDeputy Chief Education Officer, responsible for strategy and finance; the DfESDirector (2001-2004) responsible for all aspects of the million strong schoolworkforce in England and Wales; the DfES’s Director of Finance (2004-2006),responsible for £60 billion of public spending; and leadership in the CabinetOffice (2006-2007) of the Capability Reviews of CLG and the Foreign Office.

Andrew Scallan

Andrew is the Director of Electoral Administration at the ElectoralCommission. He joined the Electoral Commission in October 2006 onsecondment from Manchester City Council where he was the DeputyReturning Officer and Head of Statutory Services. In that job, as well aselections, his responsibilities included the registration of births, marriagesand deaths; the coroner’s service, licensing; trading standards andenvironmental health.

Andrew has worked in elections since 1983 and is an honorary member ofthe Association of Electoral Administrators, having served as HonorarySecretary and Vice-Chairman. He is a former joint editor of Schofield’sElection Law and has been a trainer and consultant on elections in thiscountry and in emerging democracies.

Dave Smith

Dave is the Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council. Born in Salford andeducated at Sheffield University, he joined the council in 2005 and wasappointed Chief Executive in 2008.

A career public servant, Dave has worked in a variety of roles includingsocial care, housing and economic regeneration. Having completed amaster’s degree at Manchester University, Dave was awarded his PhD in1995 by the University of Warwick following a five year researchprogramme. Dave has a particular interest in the use of new technologies tosupport more effective, efficient and joined-up public service delivery andhas been involved in the IBM Smarter Cities programme since 2009.

He sits on the Government’s Local Public Data Panel, the Elections andReferendum Steering Group and the Department of Health’s TransitionsBoard. Dave is a board member for several organisations including beingSecretary of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Secretary to theSunderland Empire Theatre, Company Secretary to Bowes Railway andMember of the Board of Sunderland Software City.


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Dave is Returning Officer for Sunderland, Regional Returning Officer andRegional Counting Officer for the North East region and Police Area ReturningOfficer for Northumbria Police Force area.

Melvin Humphreys

Melvin has been involved in the administration of elections for just over 23years, firstly in mid Wales, and more recently at Telford and Wrekin. He isan accredited trainer for the Association, and has devised the performancestandards, parish matters and community governance review courses formembers. Latterly he has been described as an “expert” – which is alwaysdangerous in such a vast topic – on parishes and community governancereviews. He lives in the shadow of Wenlock Edge, surrounded by his maininterests: a garden, lots of fantastic walking, studio ceramic pots (whatfriends call his “ming”) and architectural history books, longing for the daywhen he can leave elections – and parishes – well and truly behind him!

10. Close of Conference

James Stevens

Jim joined the AEA in 1987 and is currently the Association’s Conference &Seminar Organiser. He has previously served on the Management Board asthe Education & Training Officer and subsequently the Executive Director(Commercial), as well as being Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the EasternBranch. He is also on the Association’s Qualifications and Examining Boards.

Having been involved in electoral registration and elections since joiningBrentwood Council in 1986, being directly responsible for the managementof European, Parliamentary, County, Borough and Parish elections, as well asworking at the sharp end at polling stations, he recently gave up full timeemployment in local government, after having endured six General Elections,where he was also the electoral registration officer and returning officer.Now a consultant for the AEA, he spent time at the City of London, St AlbansCity & District Council, Fenland District Council and Mid Devon District Council.

Jim also has considerable experience in overseas elections, including havingbeen as an election supervisor in Cambodia, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo andCroatia, as well as an observer in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Ukraine.


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SponsorsStand Company Sponsoring4 ERS/Xpress Annual Dinner

5 DRS Delegate Bags

11 Print Image Network Pads and Pens

12&13 Halarose Social Night

15 Aero-Vote Brochure

20&21 Pakflatt Badges

FE

FE

FE

Sta

ge

Hilton Blackpool

Royal Suite – Dinner Table Layout


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Branch Photographs

I’m sure you’ll agree that last year’s Branch photographs were great fun and Electoral Reform

Services and Xpress Software Solutions are looking forward to organising them again for 2012!

Photographs will take place on Monday evening during the drinks reception before the Annual

Dinner.

In order to help things run smoothly we are issuing a timetable so each Branch has a specific time

to be upstairs in the bar area ready to have the Red Carpet treatment!

Branch Name Time

East Midlands Branch 7:00pm

Eastern Branch 7:05pm

London Branch 7:10pm

North East and Yorkshire Branch 7:15pm

North West Branch 7:20pm

Scotland Branch 7:25pm

South Eastern Branch 7:30pm

Southern Branch 7:35pm

Wales Branch 7:40pm

West Midlands Branch 7:45pm


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Hamilton

Floor plan – Hilton Hotel

Queens

Suite

Exhibitors

Nelson

“Royal Suite”

Plenary Sessions

and Dinner

Neville

Mortimer

Beaufort

Reception

Lobby

Ent

ranc

e

GamesRoom

Lobby

AEA Office

Entrance Hall

Workshop Title

Supplementary Voting – how does that work?

What can go wrong at the verification stage of the

count?

Declaration electors – numerous, varied and

complex - do you understand the processes?

The Local Government Act 1972… solved!

Location

Nelson

Mortimer

Beaufort

Neville

Tues

PM

1D

2D

3D

4D

Tues

AM

1C

2C

3C

4C

Mon

PM

1B

2B

3B

4B

Mon

AM

1A

2A

3A

4A


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Workshops1. Supplementary Voting – how does that work? Find out the voting

process and the counting practicalities.Venue: Nelson Room

Debby Frost

Debby first entered the world of Elections back in 1975 whilst working as anadministrative trainee for Newcastle City Council. She was seconded to helpwith the first National Referendum on staying in the Common Market, andended up working within the Elections and Registration Office for the next 8years.

She joined the AEA back in I986 whilst working for Blyth Valley Council inNorthumberland, and found the support invaluable for someone workingalone in an Election Office for a smaller authority. To give something back,she has been a Branch Officer and an accredited AEA Trainer for around 15years.

In 1996, Debby returned to her home City of Newcastle as Electoral ServicesManager and finally retired (very early) after the General Election in 2010.Since then she has been kept busy working as an AEA Trainer across thecountry and as Branch Treasurer of the North East and Yorkshire Branch ofthe Association.

Judith Witts

Judith began her involvement in elections as a count assistant in 1968. Onceher children had grown up and full time work was a possibility, she found aposition with the London Borough of Croydon in 1996, moving to the LondonBorough of Richmond upon Thames as their Electoral Services Manager in2000. She took (very!) early retirement in April 2011 to spend more timewith her parents.

Judith was a member of the Electoral Commission Training Strategy Group,the Greater London Authority Election Advisory Panel and the NationalOccupational Standards Steering Group for Electoral Services.

She has been a national AEA trainer since 1998 and holds the AEACertificate.


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2. What can go wrong at the verification stage of the count? This workshopwill take a closer look at this crucial exercise.Venue: Mortimer Room

Liz Read

Amongst many other duties Liz has been involved with Elections andElectoral Registration for over 20 years (yes she was a child when shestarted!!). Liz changed jobs in June this year and now works for CoventryCity Council which has proved an interesting move and provided newchallenges. Liz has previously been Chairman of the AEA, and the EastMidlands Branch. Liz has been involved in training with the AEA since 1999and holds the AEA Diploma.

Christine Mason

Christine has been involved in elections and electoral registration work since1975 and has worked for three Local Authorities ending up as ElectoralServices Manager at Wakefield. She worked on elections in Bosnia for threeyears running which she found were fantastic experiences.

Christine is an accredited AEA trainer and has served as the Chair of theNorth East and Yorkshire Branch of the AEA until December 2011. Afterworking as a Deputy Regional Returning Officer for the National Referendum,Christine took early retirement in October 2011. She hopes to stay involvedin the work she has loved but is now hoping for a lot more “me” time andthat glorious moment when she doesn’t know whether it’s a weekday or aweekend!!!..........

3. Declaration electors – numerous, varied and complex - do youunderstand the processes?Venue: Beaufort Room

Rob Curtis

Rob is the Electoral Services Manager for Runnymede Borough Council andhas been an AEA accredited trainer for 5 years. A former banker, policeofficer and poll tax collector, his next move in the popularity stakes was tobe a traffic warden but thankfully he stumbled into Electoral Services and theAEA where he has been ever since. He is also a Plymouth Argyle supporterand plays rugby occasionally for Windsor Veterans and hopes to be atconference this year without an injury. He will be in the bar.


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Maggie Mulhall

In the twenty years she worked in elections and electoral registration,Maggie was employed by five different authorities and was promoted froma Clerical Assistant to a Deputy Returning Officer. She has been an accreditedtrainer for the AEA for over ten years. Maggie holds the Diploma in ElectoralAdministration, has been an examiner for the AEA qualification and was theChairman of the North West Branch. She is the Student Adviser for Englandand Wales providing assistance and guidance to both Certificate and Diplomastudents.

4. The Local Government Act 1972… solved! Ambiguous, not well known,but it affects you more than you might think.Venue: Neville Room

Peter Stanyon

Peter has been a member of the AEA since 1988 and was honoured to serveas its Chairman in 2010. He is well known for his efforts as a trainer, alwaysbeing prepared to try something different to make often dry subjects moreinteresting for delegates. He is reunited with long term sidekick SallySprason again this year … so let battle commence!

He is one of the Association’s team of examiners (so be nice to him!) and amember of the Foundation Course writing and delivery team.

Peter is employed by the London Borough of Enfield and continues tosupport his beloved Luton Town, even though you have to look in the smallprint now for their scores!

Sally Sprason

Sally has worked for local government for over 20 years with her electioncareer starting many years ago at Stroud District Council. She now works asthe electoral services manager for Swindon Borough Council following amove out of local government to work for Xpress as a software trainer andsupport manager. Sally holds the Diploma in Electoral Services and works asan examiner for the AEA examination board. She has undertaken variousAEA training ranging from regional training for the European elections in1999 to more recent AEA training days and branch training. She particularlyenjoys the Conference workshops, helping deliver interesting and worthwhileworkshops within a good learning environment.


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Exhibitor Floor plan – Queens Suite – Hilton Hotel

FE FE

FE

To

Reception

Tea & Coffee

Tea & Coffee

8

Shaw &

Sons

12 &

13

Hala

rose

9Shaw

&

Sons

11

Print

image

netw

ork

17

FDM

4

ER

S

5

IntE

lect

6P

rofe

ssio

na

l

Ele

ctio

n

So

lutio

ns

15

Aero Vote

Ltd

18

Versapak

16

IDOX

14

Print

UK

1 &

2

Docum

ent T

echnolo

gy

Lim

ited

19

Acc

eler

ated

Mailin

g &

Mar

ketin

g

7

Opt

2Vot

e

10

FE

3

Scytl


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Exhibitor Floor plan – Foyer – Hilton Hotel

ReceptionConcierge

Lifts

Exhibition

Up

20 & 21

Pakflatt

Phones &

Computer Station

Plenary

Hall

22

& 2

3D

em

ocra

cy C

ounts

Hotel

Entrance


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Organisation Document Technology Limited

Contact Name Jon Sanders Stand 1 & 2 Telephone 01582 715070 Fax 01582 715028

Email [email protected]

Document Technology will be displaying its latest services and products, which are designed tominimise delivery costs, and to maximise responses and return of documents. We will bedemonstrating our new canvass response analysis, our co-ordinated canvass service, and our pre-canvass service. We will also be featuring our new laser printed postal vote pack, with ballot paperloading option and our ballot paper dispensers.

We will be glad to reserve a time slot for an individual presentation at our stand. Please call JonSanders on 01582 715070 or e-mail [email protected]

Organisation Scytl

Contact Name Andy Tye Stand 3 Telephone + 44 7725 462 158 Fax


Scytl is an international technology company that empowers public administrations to tackleprecisely the challenges they face with the organization of elections through powerful andspecialized software solutions. Our solutions have been successfully used by governments across theworld for the last ten years like the USA, France, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, the UAE, etc. Oursolutions incorporate groundbreaking electoral security technology that enables us to automate anyphase of the electoral processes in a completely secure and auditable manner, positioning thecompany as a worldwide leader in the industry.


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Organisation Electoral Reform Services & Xpress Software Solutions

Contact Name Hannah Lake Stand 4 Telephone 0208 365 8909 Fax 0208 365 7013


Make the switch

ERS & Xpress are the most experienced electoral companies in the UK. With this wealth ofexperience there has never been a better time to make the switch.

The Xpress Hub

In addition to our stand, we would welcome you to visit the Xpress hub. Situated in the ChesterRoom the hub provides delegates with an opportunity to view demonstrations of the Xpresssoftware and a range of ERS products away from the hustle and bustle of the exhibition hall. Forexisting Xpress customers the hub also houses Xpress surgeries from 3.30pm on Monday andTuesday.

Teas & coffees will be available throughout and lunches will be provided for those delegates takingadvantage of our lunchtime demonstrations.

Advanced Bookings

To book a demonstration slot please contact Jamie Doig on 01453 794915 or [email protected] you can visit our website www.electoralreform.co.uk/maketheswitch for moreinformation.

Organisation IntElect

Contact Name Sonya Anderson Stand 5 Telephone 01908 666088 Fax 01908 607668


Building on a long-standing relationship, two of the world’s leading elections specialists, DRS andElectoral Reform Services have joined forces to offer a totally unique integrated election servicesjoint venture for the public sector.

This new joint venture, called IntElect, brings together a huge wealth of experience and expertise inelection services. Focusing on delivery of consultancy, technology and management services forhigh volume, mission critical, electronically counted public elections in the UK, as well asinternational voter registration and election projects. The partnership will enable election authoritiesto reap the benefits of extensive experience in reducing the administrative burden of elections,whilst ensuring the security, integrity and accuracy of the results. Visit stand 5 to find out more andmeet some of the IntElect team.


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Organisation Professional Election Solutions

Contact Name David Redhead Stand 6 Telephone 0191 491 4300 Fax 0191 491 1878


Professional Election Solutions (PES) provides high quality modular voting booth systems to councilsacross the UK and Europe.

The Ultimate and The Compact are both fully functional in seconds, fold flat for storage andtransport and include a height adjustable writing surface. PES is looking forward to attending theAEA Conference for the third year in succession. To find out more about our products please do nothesitate to get in touch or come and see us at stand 6.

p.s. We have sold over 17,000 units throughout Europe!

Organisation OPT2VOTE Ltd

Contact Name Tom Crangle Stand 7 Telephone 07976 873 875 Fax 028 7137 8869


OPT2VOTE is one of the premier election service providers in the UK, providing outstanding expertiseand knowledge across all areas of election management. OPT2VOTE specialises in designing anddelivering a range of solutions to address the changing needs of the UK electoral services market.Products and services incorporate traditional election services and innovations such as electroniccounting and electronic voting. OPT2VOTE provides the choice, convenience and assurance, necessaryto improve participation and confidence in voting, ensuring integrity and transparency, reducingrisk, whilst achieving modernisation and advancement of the democratic process. To find out more,please talk to one of our team at stand 7 today.


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Organisation Shaw & Sons Limited

Contact Name Crispin Williams Stand 8 & 9 Telephone 01322 621100 Fax 01322 550553


Shaw’s supply a full range of products for the administration of elections and referendums of alltypes. We have a well-earned reputation for providing the right products at affordable prices and,above all, a reliable service that ensures that you will not be let down.

A vast range of forms, notices and posters is augmented by a comprehensive equipment list thatincludes presiding officers’ sundries, signage, voting screens and ballot boxes. Shaw’s haveprepared a complete range of materials for the 2012 English and Welsh local elections, the GLAelections and the proposed mayoral referendums, all of which comply with the relevant legislation.Our knowledgeable staff will be available to offer advice to authorities on their needs.

Shaw’s renowned long-life folding ballot box will be on view, as will several new product lines,including a ‘budget’ voting screen, pavement signs, ballot box trolleys and a tactile voting device.

Organisation Print Image Network Limited

Contact Name Stephen Power, John Foster, Tony Slater Stand 11 Telephone 0161 209 4800 Fax 0161 209 4804


For design, print and project management providing the best end-to-end election print service youwill find, come and see Print Image Network. Enjoy our unrivalled reputation for reliability andprofessionalism through your single point of contact. Our experienced and dedicated accountmanagers are renowned for their proactive approach, scheduling expertise and a record of alwayskeeping promises. Our supportive methods leave you time to deal with other matters, safe in theknowledge that every aspect of your printing and mailing requirement is being taken care of. Frompoll cards, ballot papers and postal votes to ancillary products such as corresponding number listsand grass skirts – we supply it all. Connect with our team and experience it for yourself.


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Organisation Halarose Limited

Contact Name Ellie Griffiths Stand 12 & 13 Telephone 01491 682 120 Fax 0870 429 2764


HALAROSE – Electoral software you can rely on, people you can depend on…• How would you like to use a modern, reliable system, which is always promptly enhanced to

meet your needs?• How would you like to experience the comfort of a support team that is really behind you and

never more than a phone call away?Want to find out more? Come and meet Ellie, Thomas, Rob and William at the Halarose stand…

Organisation PRINT.UK.COM

Contact Name Julie Barnett Stand 14 Telephone 01753 567 100 Fax 01753 567 200


Print.UK.Com are able to provide an intelligent print and distribution solution for all Electoral Printingrequirements (Poll Cards, Postal Voting Packs, Ballot Paper, Posters, Registration Forms, PVI mailings,posters and grass skirts). Based in Slough with convenient transport links to M25, M1 M4, M40, theCompany has been operating for 19 years and working within the Electoral Market for over 10 years.Print.uk.com (PUK) has established a name for quality work within this niche time sensitive market,providing work on time to the total satisfaction of our clients. We are confident in our ability to dealwith all major electoral registration software. Our in-house IT and Production departments workclosely with Strand, Halarose and Xpress to keep up to date with data outputs and requirements.


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Organisation Aero Vote Ltd

Contact Name Verity Walsh/Ian Brown Stand 15 Telephone 01296 485131 Fax 01296 485097


Aero Vote is one of the leading suppliers of election and registration solutions, providing bespokeand professional services to support secure voting and successful registration events.

Our Large in-house production capacity with secure on-site warehousing makes us one of the fewsuppliers who are able to complete all services under one roof making us one of the premierdedicated manufactures and suppliers to numerous councils and local authorities.

Aero Vote operates with accurate planning and information, combined with our attention to detailfor every project, making us a valuable partner in organising and running an election.

For more information please send all enquires to [email protected] or call 01296 485131

Organisation Idox

Contact Name Satnam Jassal Stand 16 Telephone 0870 333 7101 Fax 0870 333 7131


Idox is a leading supplier of Electoral Management Software and associated services, supplying 116Local Authorities that cover a voting population of 13 million people. The Strand Electoral Solutionsmanage all types of elections and help to automate three key elements of the electoral process:Electoral Registration; Election Management; Document Management. Each solution incorporatesinnovative means of reducing the time taken to process key tasks. All solutions integrate togetherwhere appropriate and with relevant supporting systems such as gazetteers and result presentationsolutions. All Strand Electoral systems are provided with comprehensive Support Services which areunsurpassed when you are under the most pressure, in the lead up to Elections and throughout theCanvass. For further information please visit www.idoxgroup.com

Organisation Financial Data Management plc

Contact Name Jim Fletcher Stand 17 Telephone 020 7055 1600 Fax 020 7511 0004


FDM look forward to discussing our patented One-Piece Mailer design which was used by 70% ofLondon’s voters at the 2011 referendum and previously at parliamentary, local and mayoralelections. Talk to us about your requirements for Confirmation Letters, Polling Cards, Ballot Papersand Canvass Forms.

- All our work is produced in-house at our central London data centre. - We operate the latest equipment dealing with all aspects of printing and mailing- Dynamic real-time job control systems and leading print management software- Significant savings on your postage as we’re an authorised mail carrier.

Please see our website www.fdmlgroup.co.uk or contact us at [email protected].


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Organisation Versapak International Limited

Contact Name Julie Goddard Stand 18 Telephone 020 8333 5374 Fax 020 8310 8385


Versapak are the only manufacturers of the solid lid, foldable, tamper evident ballot box. Designedto meet the demands of modern elections and overcome problems with handling and storage at allstages of the election, the ballot box has received positive feedback from all local authorities totake it up. The feedback we’ve received to date suggests we’ve certainly accomplished our aim tooffer electoral professionals a new level of security, simplicity and ease of use. Our range ofproducts has expanded to include secure bags for presiding officers, postal vote wallets, signs, and,for the international market, a completely transparent version of our secure ballot box.

Organisation Accelerated Mailing & Marketing

Contact Name Alix Cox Stand 19 Telephone 01444 460301 Fax 01444 870960


AM&M offer the complete flexible electoral communications solution. We utilise our 25 yearsexperience to enhance your electoral services stationery. Our unique system can handle any data inany format to produce the layout and personalization that fits your requirements. All datamanagement is carried out in house, including the personalisation and printing of secure officialmarks, mailing of postal votes and printing of ballot papers. We understand your requirements andoffer innovative solutions to make sure we deliver your print on time and to the standard youexpect. From initial design, through to print & production, AM&M can also produce canvass formsand manage the responses via web, email, telephone or white mail.


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Organisation Pakflatt Group

Contact Name Patrick McGonagle Stand 20 & 21 Telephone 02871 287 111 Fax 02871 287 780


Pakflatt are election equipment experts. We have successfully provided a growing range of productsfor the Polling Station for the last 25 years to election administrators throughout Europe, the UnitedStates and numerous emerging democracies.

Every year we introduce new and effective products to our range, so give us a call on the stand tosee what's new. Here in Blackpool, the Pakflatt team will be in the Foyer and we look forward toseeing all of you.

Our exhibition stand this year is again about creativity and innovation. Once again we areshowcasing our booth range and our complete range of ballot boxes, including the brand newOrion.

We are also showing the highly versatile Totem Poll and Triple Crowns with all their possibilitieswith statutory notices, notice of poll and large print version of the ballot paper. You can also reviewour new street sign. Be sure to ask our team about your tactile devices & sundry pack needs, theywill take your order today.

By now you should be sporting your new name wallet to hold not only your name badge but alsoyour car keys, room key, two complimentary Oxford Mini-Twist Pens, mobile phone, money, andheaven knows what else.

These are available for sale to your authority for any purpose, so please ask for a quote.

We will also have our highly popular transfer case on the stand and the advice is to get your ordersin early as last year we were oversubscribed on this great product very early on.

World class products with an emphasis on Health & Safety, Security, and convenience.


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Organisation Democracy Counts Limited

Contact Name Simon Verdon Stand 22 & 23 Telephone 07957880480 Fax


Democracy Counts is a fresh thinking business with extensive knowledge & experience of theelectoral registration and election management software market.

Our ElectorCentre suite of products, spearheaded by Elector8, has been developed using marketleading technology; they are modular, scalable and fully integrated, providing the most extensiverange of democratic software solutions available.

We have worked in consultation with our clients to meet the challenges of reform andmodernisation, and Elector8 is the result. Elector8 differs from any other product available, as itaddresses the business processes which underpin electoral registration and management, not justcompliance & legislation.

We don’t believe that one size fits all, so with Elector8 we also provide “Access Change Flexibility”.By putting you in control & enabling customisation, we’ve eliminated the need to wait for majorsystem updates. It is also incredibly efficient – delivering tangible time & cost savings immediatelyon many of the existing day to day processes you carry out.

Elector8 is revolutionary, so it doesn’t just do the job now – it sets you up for the future. Come &visit us on Stand 22/23 to find out how.


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Conference Programme 2012Sunday 29 January 2012

3.30pm Registration – The Royal Foyer, Hilton Hotel

4.30pm Exhibition wine reception – Queens Suite

6.00pm Conference Opener – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Kath Richards, Speakers: Prof Colin Rallings & Prof Michael Thrasher (University of Plymouth)

7.30pm Supper – Promenade Restaurant and Lancaster Suite

Monday 30 January 2012


9.15am Individual Electoral Registration – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Clive Joynes, Speakers: Colin Dingwall (Cabinet Office), John Turner (AEA), Jenny Watson (Electoral Commission)

and Robert Connelly (Birmingham City Council)

10.00am Parliamentary Boundary Review – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Neil Middlehurst, Speaker: Tony Bellringer (Boundary Commission for England) and Martin O’Loughlin (South

Ribble Borough Council)






4.00pm Experian and the missing millions – Royal Suite

Session Leader: George Cooper, Speaker: Patrick Gray (Experian)


5.15pm Close

Tuesday 31 January 2012




11.30am Election Fees & Charges – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Bill Crawford, Speakers: Mark Heath (Southampton City Council) and Paul Docker (Cabinet Office)

12.15pm Reform of Electoral Law – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Karen Quaintmere, Speaker: Frances Patterson QC (Law Commission)

12.30pm Keynote Speech – Royal Suite

Session Leader: John Turner, Speaker: Mark Harper MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, Cabinet Office




4.00pm Data Matching pilot schemes – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Darren Whitney, Speakers: Louise Stamp (LB Tower Hamlets), Julian Bassham (LB Southwark), Alasdair

MacTaggart (Renfrewshire VJB) and Mark Hughes (Cabinet Office)


5.15pm Close

Wednesday 1 February 2012

9.15am Annual General Meeting – Royal Suite

9.30am Police & Crime Commissioner Elections – Royal Suite

Session Leader: Lynda Murlewski, Speakers: Stephen Kershaw (Home Office), Andrew Scallan (Electoral Commission), Dave

Smith (Sunderland City Council) and Melvyn Humphreys (Telford & Wrekin Council)

10.30am Coffee – Royal Foyer

11.00am Close of Conference

AGM Conference & ExhibitionHilton Metropole Hotel, BlackpoolOfficial Programme 2012

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