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The Cabinet considered a report
of the Executive Director (Strategy and Change) in response to a
Notice of Motion concerning improved voting provision for visually
impaired people referred by Council on 12 December 2024.
 
Resolved:
 
1. That the RNIB Blind Voters
Count campaign, be supported.
 
2. That officers continue to
work with the RNIB along with local charities, such as Southend In
Sight to research the local impact among the City’s visually
impaired residents.
 
3. That officers continue to
research solutions that allow blind people to vote independently
both within the polling stations in Southend and by
post.
 
4. That the additional measures
to improve accessibility for blind/partially sighted people be
funded from the allocation of a one-off sum of up to £20,000
to be met from the Council’s Corporate Contingency
budget.
 
5. That officers continue to
reach out to other local and national disability charities to
understand any difficulties residents with other disabilities have
when voting in order to improve accessibility for all.
 
Reasons for
decision:
 
To respond to the Notice of
Motion.
 
Other options:
 
None.
 
Note: This is an Executive
Function
Not eligible for
call-in
Cabinet Member: Cllr
Cowan