Agenda item

To consider a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager on the outcome of the consultation with Town and Parish Councils on the District Council’s decision to move from elections by thirds to whole Council elections from May 2018.

Consideration was given to a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the results on consultation undertaken to move the electoral cycle of all Town and Parish Councils to coincide with whole District Council elections from May 2018. The Deputy Leader, Councillor G J Bull, explained that if some Town and Parish Councils remained on their current cycle it could expose them to higher costs for running an election. With this in mind, Councillor Bull moved and it was duly seconded by Councillor R Fuller that the following amendment be made to the recommendations set out in the report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager –

That the words “with the exception of St Ives Town Council, St Neots Town Council and Warboys Parish Council” be deleted from recommendations (a) and (b) and recommendations (c) to (e) be deleted.

Councillor Mrs S A Giles outlined her disgust with the proposed amendment to overrule the Town Council and Councillor B S Chapman indicated his confusion with the financial argument and suggested that the cost would be financially neutral. He expressed his disappointment of the lack of respect for all the residents of St Neots and suggested that it was an abuse of the democratic process.

In concurring with Councillors Mrs Giles and Chapman, Councillor P D Reeve referred to the importance of Town and Parish Councils in local communities and suggested that if their elections remained combined with the District Council then electors were more likely to vote on party political grounds.

Councillor D A Giles reported that the Councillors had been elected to serve a four year term and appreciated the need for economies but as the Town Council paid for the elections the term should remain for the four year term. Councillor J E Corley suggested that these proposed amendments would destroy all credibility and would not be supported by the residents of St Neots. Councillor Ms S L Taylor similarly outlined her disgust with the proposed amendments.

In response, Councillor Fuller explained that it was equally undemocratic to allow a six year term for Warboys Parish Council and qualified the suggestion that the Town Council paid for the elections, in fact the residents of the parish paid for the elections.

After discussion and upon being put to the vote the Motion was declared to be CARRIED. Councillors Chapman, Corley, D Giles, S Giles, Reeve and Taylor voted against the motion.

Councillor Chapman moved and was duly seconded by Councillor D A Giles that recommendation (d) remained. Whereupon being put to the vote the Motion was declared to be LOST.

It having previously been moved by Councillor Bull and seconded by Councillor Fuller, in respect of the substantive motion upon being put to the vote it was further

RESOLVED

(a)  that an Order be made under section 53 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to set the date of ordinary elections for all Town and Parish Councils as 2018 and every four years thereafter; and

(b)  that an Order be made for transitional provision to reduce to term of office of Town and Parish Councillors elected in 2015 and 2016 so that their term of office comes to an end in 2018.

(At 9.40pm, Councillors Chapman, D Giles, S Giles and Taylor left the meeting and did not return).

The Chairman restored order to the meeting following a request from Councillor T Hayward.