Yet another Council By Election may be called following the resignation of a Town Councillor, this time on health grounds. With just one year to the next Full Council elections it seems a shame to have to have another election at a cost of over £9,200 to the Council Taxpayer.
Newton News has checked on the law and if the resignation had taken place within 6 months of the next elections the seat could have remained vacant. But because it is over six months there are two choices – call a By Election by getting 10 signatures or leave the Council to simply co-opt someone for the remainder of the term.
Whoever wins the Election would only serve a year incurring a large cost and a school closure for polling, coming at the same time as the Police & Crime Commissioner elections and EU Referendum.
A co-option is probably in the public interest and Labour who control the Council would co opt a Labour Party member to replace the Labour Councillor standing down.