You should identify the staff you will need and make the necessary appointments at the earliest opportunity.
You should ensure that deputy arrangements are in place in case you are unable to act personally. You may appoint deputies to discharge all or any of your duties.1
Each local authority which falls within the constituency must place the services of its officers at your disposal.2
You will need to appoint:
petition clerks and assistants for the signing places
staff for the issue and opening of postal signing sheets3
staff for the counting of signatures
any other support staff you have identified as required
All staff must be given a copy of the secrecy requirements.4
For continuity, where possible you should consider having the same members of staff at the signing places throughout the signing period.
Where this is not achievable, you could consider a rota system where, for example, the same members of staff work on the same weekday throughout the six weeks.
You must not appoint anyone who has been employed by or on behalf of an accredited campaigner in respect of the petition.
You will need to plan for the training of your staff so that they are aware of their duties and what will be expected of them. Although the role of a petition clerk is similar to the role of a Presiding Officer, you will need to adapt your polling station training to reflect differences for managing a signing place at a recall petition – for example, who is eligible to attend signing places.
You will also need to ensure that you include training for petition clerks and assistants to understand the barriers that some disabled people may face when attending a signing place and how to use any equipment provided to enable disabled people to sign independently.