Guidance for Returning Officers administering Local Government Elections in England

Establishing a project team

You should establish a project team to support you in carrying out your functions and in delivering a well-run election. In addition to yourself, your project team should include any appointed deputies, other elections staff members and the ERO, where this is not yourself.  
It should also include any other key personnel you consider appropriate such as:

  • your council’s communications team
  • HR colleagues
  • finance colleagues
  • IT
  • your contact centre/front of house staff
  • facilities staff
  • your local Police single point of contact (SPOC)

Combined authority and combined county authority mayoral elections

At a combined authority mayoral election your project team could include the other local ROs in the combined authority area, as well as the CARO.

At a combined county authority mayoral election your project team could include the other local ROs in the combined county authority area, as well as the CCARO.

Establishing a project team

The project team should have a clear remit and understanding of the tasks to be carried out. You should prepare a schedule of meetings at the planning stage, and keep a record of each meeting as an audit trail of what was discussed and of any decisions made. Where possible, the RO should chair any project team meetings.

Last updated: 14 March 2024