Middlesbrough mayoral election result will be delayed due to concerns about 'overtired staff'

The result of next year's mayoral election in Middlesbrough won't be announced until around 6pm the day after polls close.

The decision has been taken following "inconsistent" results at the 2011 count by "overtired" staff.

May 7's vote takes place on the same day as the General Election and polls for ward councillors and following problems in 2007 and 2011, steps are being put in place to ensure staff can cope with the demand.

A report presented to the council's corporate affairs and audit committee on Thursday said: "In 2011... a key officer showed signs of stress due to the amount of work to be carried out and... there were a number of recounts which saw staff counting from 10pm to 5am.

“This resulted in inconsistent count results due to overtiredness.”

After 2007's mayoral election a key member of staff went off with stress and did not return to work.

The report said that “it is likely that the mayoral and ward elections will be closely contested” which will lead to the counting of second preference votes in the mayoral election and a number of recounts for individual wards.

On polling day some staff could be working for almost 24 hours from 6am through to 4am or 5am.

It was recommended and agreed that on the first day - Thursday, May 7 - General Election votes will be counted. On day two - Friday, May 8 - the counts for the mayoral and ward elections won’t start until noon with the results expected to be announced by 6pm.

It is proposed to use Southlands Centre on Ormesby Road as the venue due to its size, flexibility of rooms, easy access for returns from polling stations, space for candidates and the media, plus its parking facilities.

Elected independent mayor Ray Mallon has already said he will not be serving another term.

In the running for the top job are Labour's Dave Budd, independent candidates businessman Andy Preston and Cllr Len Junier, and, for the Green Party, David Masterman.

Middlesbrough Council has a reserve fund of £145,000 that is accumulated over a number of years to fund local elections but due to the number and type of elections next year it is expected that additional funding may be needed.

This is due to a need for more staff for polling stations, an increase in counting teams, cost for training sessions plus additional equipment such as ballot boxes and possibly polling booths.

The council will keep a record of costs to enable a re-charge to central government.