THE man in charge of May’s shambolic local elections could face calls to hand over the responsibility tomorrow.

David Buckle, returning officer for Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils, is to answer questions at a meeting of both councils.

A damning report published last week highlighted a string of blunders in the district and parish elections, including problems which led to 2,035 postal votes and more than 2,250 polling cards not being sent to residents.

Mr Buckle, who is paid £129,092 a year as chief executive at both councils, managed elections last year when thousands of voters in the Vale were sent polling cards with the wrong polling station.

Conservative member for Wallingford North Marcus Harris said: “There were mistakes that cost a lot of people in Wallingford the vote.

“If somebody is accountable they should be held to account over it.”

Two staff on the Vale election team were made redundant two months before the election, but local democracy consultant Tim Revell’s report said there was no evidence to suggest this had an “adverse effect”.

Jenny Hannaby, deputy leader of the Lib Dem opposition at the Vale, said: “One would have thought more hands were needed at a time like this, not less.”

Mr Buckle has not yet received a fee for his role as returning officer.

But South Oxfordshire District Council leader Ann Ducker did not blame him and said printing firm Paragon Group UK Ltd would compensate the council.

Henley Town Council has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Buckle and called for him to resign as returning officer.

The scrutiny meeting takes place at South Oxfordshire District Council’s offices in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, tomorrow at 6.30pm.