Topic: Two town councillors have resigned

[baldy]

It has been confirmed this week that two Westbury Town Councillors have resigned:
 
Jackie Reed (Conservative)
Ian Taylor (Conservative)
 
Both held seats in Westbury Ham ward.
 
It is too early to tell whether Wiltshire Council will make arrangements that could allow any by-election to take place at the same time as the Unitary and European elections on 4th June. Such a decision would be up to the Returning Officer (the Chief Exec of Wiltshire Council) and he may not want to complicate the planned elections on 4th June with town council by-elections.
 
Another point is that town council by-elections only occur if 10 registered electors call the by-elections, which they should only do if they have candidates to put up.  It has been clear in recent years that few, if any, people want to be town council candidates .... and so it is perfectly possible that there may not actually be by-elections and the town council may be able instead to co-opt after a set time period in the mid Summer.
 
By-elections in Ham ward usually cost the town council about £6,000 a time, mainly due to the staff expenses of arranging the event and manning the polling stations.
 
We will see what happens.
 
The two recent resignations were triggered for the following reasons:
 
Jackie Reed is moving away with her partner to the Peak District, which is where he now has a new job.
 
Ian Taylor lost interest in being a councillor after losing a string of big issue arguments.

[baldy]

If anyone is interested in running as an Independent candidate for a town council seat this Summer, please do contact me as I can give a lot of advice about what to do and what the pitfalls are..... and, importantly, how to win your seat (assuming you convince me that you are suitable to be a councillor).
 
You do not need to agree with me on issues, but you must be able to easily recognise the difference between practical realities and impractical or untrue nonsense.
Also, your reason for wanting to be a councillor should include wanting to make Westbury better for everyone.
 
Westbury Town Council currently has 6 Independents (of which one joined the Conservatives but acts as an Independent), 2 who are believed to be Conservatives but who actually left the party some time ago, 1 Labour member and 5 definite Conservatives.
 
Incidentally, it is a myth that any political party with a majority of the 16 councillors controls the council. In reality, it is the most experienced Independent councillors who are providing the decisive lead on almost all key issues in the current council still. 
 
 

[baldy]

According to the Elections Department of Wiltshire Council, it is very unlikely the Returning Officer will permit any town council by-elections on 4th June.
 
It is more likely that he will defer any by-elections for 2 months.

[Bob DeBilda]

2 months from now is more or less the 4th June.

I would have thought If a town by-election is needed, then to tie it in with the County council elections would be a good idea. It would save some costs wouldn't it?

Or do they think the electorate is too thick and would get confused in the ballot booth.

[Al]

Can we not have a spare column on the ballot paper this time please.

[Bob DeBilda]

Can we not have a spare column on the ballot paper this time please.

What for? lewd comments? 

[Al]

More thinking confusion by the dense.

[baldy]

I meant that any town council by-election would be deferred by 2 months after the usual due date.
 
This would avoid making the arrangements for the elections on 4th June too complex for the staff involved, who are working flat out trying to eliminate all mistakes and printing errors etc etc ....
 
As far as I am aware, the Returning Officer has not yet made a final decision on the matter, and it still depends on whether 10 registered electors actually call a by-election for the 2 town council seats anyway.

[baldy]

There will NOT be any by-elections for these two Westbury Ham ward town council seats.
 
This is because no-one requisitioned an election by putting in the necessary papers to the elections dept. at Wiltshire Council with the required 10 signatures by yesterday.
 
So ... the town council will now consider the process required to look for suitable candidates with a view to co-opting two people onto the town council.
 
I expect all details will be published in local newspapers sometime soon.

[Sector9]

Can individuals nominate themselves for co-option?

[Al]

Can individuals nominate themselves for co-option?

Its OK S9, I'll nominate you if you like

[baldy]

Can individuals nominate themselves for co-option?

Anyone can ask the Town Clerk to put their name forward to the council for consideration, provided they are eligible to be town councillors (ie. live within 3 miles of the Westbury parish boundary or own property in Westbury or work in the parish of Westbury and are not bankrupt).

[Sector9]

I've thought about joining the town council before, I think I'd have some good ideas and enthusiasm, but I don't want to rush into it.

Was just interested to see how this might work. Baldy do you think there will be much interest from prospective council members?

[baldy]

S9
 
Provided you put yourself forward only as an Independent (ie. not allied to any party), I will happily back you.
 
The Independents are in the majority by far and we intend to keep it that way now.
 
You will be a good and quality candidate.
 
There will probably be a contest as the Conservatives will be desperate to put their own people forward .... to say the least ....

[Sector9]

Thanks Baldy - I'll have a think. Might chat to Adam Berrisford if he's still on there (purely as he is a young councillor - I would certainly run as an independent if I decide to go for it.)