Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) has recently successfully undertaken the organisation of a local neighbourhood board election on behalf of West Lancashire District Council.

The Council was instructed by its Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) to hold elections to form a Management Board, comprising 12 local representatives, to oversee the projects on which £3.7m will be spent over the next three years in the Tanhouse, Digmoor and Moorside regeneration area.

The project, covering an area of 4,000 households, involved communication with over 10,000 residents to organise a local election. The process followed the standard guidelines for a local election and worked to a strict timetable that invited nominations, publicised the elections, utilised candidates' packs and published nominee statements. The vote itself was conducted at three local polling stations, involved experienced poll clerks and utilised the normal machinery of voting booths and ballot boxes to ensure a democratically strict process was followed.

Working closely with local council staff KKP took the lead in planning, co-ordinating and managing the whole process. This included every aspect of the project from the initial project plan, to printing of the voting slips, print and distribution of all documentation and publicity, and conducting and verifying the final count

The timescale for the project was particularly tight and is an excellent example of KKP's ability to troubleshoot and support its clients. As a development and project management exercise with careful organisation working to a fixed deadline it reflects the Company's ability to plan effectively and draw on a flexible and skilled workforce at short notice.

" KKP, worked calmly and in a highly professional and organised manner to deliver a democratically sound local election. One of the key aspects was the production of a detailed day specific project plan that ensured everyone knew exactly what should be done and who would be doing it at all times. The ability of staff from KKP to develop a close working relationship with staff across the Council over a very short period of time was also particularly pleasing as it ensured that the project ran smoothly for all concerned"… John Nelson, Head of Leisure and Cultural Services, West Lancashire District Council.

For further details, please contact:

Peter Millward

Principal Consultant

Tel: 0161 764 7040