We will organise a referendum on any plan or order that meets the basic standards. This makes sure the community has the final say on whether a plan or order comes into force.
People living in the neighbourhood who are registered to vote in local elections can vote in a referendum. This will follow a similar process to that for local elections.
For more details, please see: Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs).
Referendum on the Todmorden Neighbourhood Plan
Timetable and results
- 27th January 2025: Publish documents, see: Todmorden Neighbourhood Plan.
- 27th January 2025: Publish:
- 18th February 2025: Deadline to registration to vote in the referendum area.
- 19th February 2025 at 5pm: Postal vote deadline.
- 26th February 2025 at 5pm: Proxy vote deadline.
- 26th February 2025 at 5pm: Voter Authority Certificate deadline.
- 26th February 2025: Publish:
- 6th March 2025: Polling Day (7am to 10pm).
- 6th March 2025: Count and result.
- 6th March 2025: Declaration of result:
Campaigning
We encourage anyone who intends to campaign to contact Electoral Services for more advice and information on the process:
People and bodies (includes Councillors) can campaign for an outcome as 'campaign organisers', but public bodies cannot.
- The Counting Officer administers the referendum.
- The Local Planning Authority (Calderdale Council) may publish factual information. The sole purpose will be to refute or correct inaccurate material published by a person other than the Council.
- Neither the Counting Officer or the Local Planning Authority can campaign for a particular outcome.
Note: Separately, Parish, Town and the Borough Councils (which are public bodies) cannot campaign for a particular outcome.
Individual Councillors (Borough/Town/Parish) can campaign, but must not:
- Use their council's resources to create campaign material.
- Display posters or signage that seeks a particular outcome on Council owned property.
- Seek to publish views for or against the referendum using Council channels.
The Borough Council (or Town/Parish Council) must not:
- Publish any material about the referendum, except in accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (as amended) Section 4.
- Publish any press statement that relates to the referendum from Councillors.
- Allow the use of any Council resources which seeks to support a particular outcome.
Campaigning expenses
Any campaign organiser may spend money on a campaign to promote or procure a particular outcome.
- The maximum amount they may spend is: £2,362 plus (0.059p x N). N is the number of electors on the relevant register.
- The exact amount they may spend is published in the Statement of Information 28 working days before the referendum.
There are certain items that may or may not be included in campaign expenses. For more details, visit: The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
We encourage campaign organisers to submit a statement of expenses to the Counting Officer. Do this via the Electoral Services team when the referendum has ended, email: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk. This should be within 28 days after the referendum, but there is no legal requirement for this.
It is an offence for a campaign organiser to exceed the referendum expenses limit. If found guilty, they would be liable to:
- a fine of up to £5,000;
- and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
If you submit a statement of expenses to the Counting Officer, it can help you to stay within the legal requirements. It also provides an independent audit trail of your expenses.
Advice on conduct of campaigns
Though there are no legal requirements, but the Electoral Commission has guidance on this, visit: Referendum campaigner.
Please note: The Counting Officer cannot give advice on what should or should not be included in campaign material. They also have no powers to regulate conduct. If you are not sure of any matter, you should seek your own independent legal advice.