Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
"Co-option: the council chooses someone to fill a vacancy if insufficient
candidates are proposed for seats at an election. An ordinary election
occurs every four years but there may be an election when a seat falls
vacant at other times. In addition, if a vacancy occurs between elections
(for example, by the resignation of a councillor), the council must
generally find out if the electors want an election before they can co-opt.
It is better for democracy if councillors are elected rather than relying on
co-option, so they can be confident that the council is the community's
choice of representatives." - Good Councillor's Training Manual.
From what I understand the option to co-opt without advertising only occurs at the first full council meeting after a scheduled election, but there may be lots of different situations covered by the legislation.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Still confused over this one. When they refer to the "Council" do they mean elected members, if so we have 2 party groups and 4 individuals(i theory). Which ones would do the co-opting?
Guest 1391- Registered: 1 Nov 2014
- Posts: 199
Yes, as there has just been an election, elected members of the Town council can consider those that wish to be co-opted. This is done at a full town council meeting. This is a different scenario to when a vacancy is caused by say a resignation/death. Co-option is considered if an election has not been called.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Could be an unseemly scramble for the last 4 places, already Nigel Collor, John Heron and Georgette Rapley have thrown their collective hats in the ring. The latter will no doubt stand as an independent as UKIP don't contest Town/Parish councils.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
When will the first full Town Council meeting be so that we find out who the co-opted ones are?
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
A few people out in the sticks have been checking how far the 3 mile limit extends!
The dates of upcoming meetings aren't yet on the Town Council website, which has been promising it is being updated and a new one will shortly be available for a long time now. They'd better get on with it soon or they are going to be in breach of the
Local Government Transparency Code come July.
Guest 1391- Registered: 1 Nov 2014
- Posts: 199
A notice re Co-option is on display on Town .council notice board at side of Town Hall, been there over a week. I understand there is interest. date of next full Town council is 24/6/15. I will be checking website.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,876
Well it is there Howard but after all this time still with this information........"We are sorry for any problems you may have with this website. We are working on a new site which will be with you very shortly.".......... I dread to think what counts as a long time.
http://www.dovertowncouncil.gov.uk/default.aspx-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The meeting this coming Wednesday decides who will be co-opted
St Radigunds 2 from the following list.
Lesley Burke, Lee Goodman, Anthony Sansum, Kevin Mills and wait for it - "The Pearsons"
Buckland 2 from the following list.
Gary Rowland, Simon Bannister, John Ward, Jenny Morgan, John Lamoon, Alan Shirley, Kayleigh Anderton.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The jury has voted as follows:-
St Radigunds - Bernie Coedy- Mayall and Lesley Burke.
Buckland - John Ward and John Lamoon.
All the above are independents so the Blue/Indie alliance hold 12 seats against the 6 Reds on the new Town council.
The UKIP candidates and the Pearsons got a total of nil points between them.
Guest 1348- Registered: 20 Sep 2014
- Posts: 276
hurrah
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
We all remember that stirring speech "I shall stand against Pam Brivio and beat her", famous last words, followed by getting humiliated in the sore losers knock out stage.
Guest 1348- Registered: 20 Sep 2014
- Posts: 276
that made me chuckle
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
You'll be getting a stern name calling for that Howard
Arte et Marte
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,876
Good to see ex forum member Bernie Coedy-Mayall elected.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Two Conservatives were co-opted and two Independants, so each group now has 6 councillors each.
Roger
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Hi, Roger. Hope you had a good break. Who are your Committee Chairmen?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Had a great break Paul, thank you.
Neil Rix is the Chairman of Planning, I'm the Chairman of Finance, we're deciding tonight, the Chairman of Community and Services, but for some reason I can't remember the Chairmanship of Civic, maybe Labour.
Roger