Maldon District Council's returning officer could be looking for two new polling station venues as it emerges that local voting set for 6 May now seems likely to go ahead.

A meeting of Maldon District Council last night (Thursday, 5 February) heard that council officers have not been able to confirm with two of the venues usually used as polling stations due to the circumstances of the pandemic. Exactly which venues these are and the precise reasons were not discussed, but councillors agreed to give returning officer Paul Dodson delegated powers to find suitable new polling stations if needed.

Members also heard how "significant work over and above the usual" would need to be done in a short space of time, including risk assessments and ensuring Covid safety.

Conservative Councillor Penny Channer said: "I would not relish what he has got to do and got to achieve."

This morning, the BBC has reported that the local elections are now expected to go ahead in May, despite concerns they might spike another surge in Covid-19.

It had widely been predicted that elections would be delayed until October, particularly after a survey last month of senior local government officers showed the vast majority had serious concerns.

Ministers had also previously said the local elections for England were under review amid uncertainty about lockdown restrictions.

However, the BBC reports today (Friday, 4 February) that government sources say elections to local councils and police and crime commissioners will go ahead in May.

There will be some safety measures, with voters asked to bring their own pen or pencil to mark their ballots.

In all, £70 million will be made available nationally to make polling stations Covid-secure.

Masks will be compulsory in polling stations and there will be divider screens and hand sanitiser.

In Maldon district, there will be crucial by-elections for two vacant seats on the district council, as well as by-elections to some parish councils, Essex County Council elections and the election of the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, which was delayed from last year.