Cheshire East says a recent Middlewich Town Council by-election was administered correctly following questions over the council's absent chief executive signing the candidate nomination papers as returning officer.

Chief executive Rob Polkinghorne has been off work unwell since November 18 last year, but his signature was used as returning officer on the official candidate nominations form on January 23 – more than two months after his sick leave began.

The actual election count itself, which took place on February 19, was overseen by deputy returning officer Brian Reed.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked why the nomination forms bore Mr Polkinghorne's signature if he was absent and whether the election result was valid under these circumstances.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "The returning officer role is a statutory function assigned by council to the chief executive and is separate from day‑to‑day council duties.

"Electoral processes allow for lawful delegation and authorised arrangements, and all election documentation was handled in accordance with electoral legislation and established procedures.

"The document was correctly signed, the returning officer having authorised the use of his signature prior to being absent from work."

He continued: "The returning officer function must continue uninhibited, irrespective of whether or not the individual is present or absent from work on leave or for other reasons.

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"Day-to-day electoral matters are undertaken by the elections team under the direction of the deputy returning officer, who has the full powers of the returning officer.

"The council can confirm that the election was administered correctly and the result is valid."

The council's website shows that the candidate nomination forms for by-elections which have been called since this Middlewich Town Council by-election have all been signed by the deputy returning officer.

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