Town Council Vacancy - ST HELENS ward

Hedge End has another vacancy to fill on the Town Council, caused by the recent death of Cllr Pearl Hicks.

Two minutes silence was held at the Town Council meeting of 15th February, in memory of Cllr Hicks, a long-serving and hard-working Councillor who was well loved by her colleagues on the Council and by the residents of Hedge End..

The official public notice of the vacancy was posted on the Hedge End Town Council website on 16th February. 

 

At the Town Council meeting on 15th February, the Town Clerk announced that if 10 residents of the St Helens ward formally request a by-election, this will be held simultaneously with the Borough elections on 3rd May 2012. If fewer than 10 signatures are obtained, the post will be filled by co-option, a process which effectively allows the Council to appoint somebody to the vacant position, without the electorate being required to vote...

In practice, co-option means that another Lib Dem is likely to be appointed to the Town Council, because the Lib Dems currently have a 18 to 1 majority on the Council and the game of politics is such that they are not likely to choose anybody other than a Lib Dem.

So if, like me, you are not happy with that situation and you would like the vacancy to be filled democratically, via an election AND YOU LIVE IN THE ST HELENS WARD, please would you write to the Returning Officer at Eastleigh Borough Council and request that the post should be filled via an election.

The address is;

The Returning Officer

EASTLEIGH BOROUGH COUNCIL,

CIVIC OFFICES,

LEIGH ROAD,

EASTLEIGH,

HAMPSHIRE.

SO50 9YN

 

I have checked with the Electoral Department this morning and they tell me that they will accept the signatures in the form of a petition. So if you agree that an election is appropriate and you don't mind knocking on your neighbours doors to obtain the necessary signatures, that would be a great contribution to local democracy in Hedge End. The only information that is needed on the petition is the Name, Address and Signature of the resident, who must be on the electoral register for ST HELENS WARD.

The closing date for this first important step, of requesting an election, is 7th March 2012.

   

Lets make sure together, that if the Lib Dems are to maintain their postion of dominance on Hedge End Town Council, it is because they have been properly elected rather than returned to the position by default...