Post by listener on Oct 20, 2012 22:34:48 GMT
Just days before the six-month rule kicks in, there is another Westbury Town Council by-election in Wiltshire. Here is some background.
Westbury Town Council comprises 16 members, elected from two wards as follows – Westbury Ham (9) and Westbury Laverton (7).
The town council was elected on 3 May 2007 under the old West Wiltshire District Council. Following the reorganization of Wiltshire as a unitary authority in 2009, the town and parish council elections due in 2011 were cancelled and the term of office of the existing town and parish councilors was extended to 2013.
The council strength on 3 May 2007 (after co-options): Con 11, Ind 3, Lab 2
The council strength on 20 October 2012: Ind 9, Con 3, Lib Dem 2, Lab 1, Vacant 1
As there was a shortfall of two candidates in Westbury Laverton ward, the Town Council co-opted Stephen Andrews (Con) and Horace Prickett (Ind).
Since 2007, 13 town councilors have resigned (including 4 who had replaced others) and 1 died. Only 6 councillors remain out of the 16 elected or co-opted in 2007. There have been 10 councillors elected in 7 polls (3 of them for two seats each). 5 of the polls were contested and 2 were uncontested. The remaining 3 new councillors were co-opted.
On 10 August 2007, Mike Cuthbert-Murray (Ind) gained a seat in Westbury Laverton ward, after Ian Lorimer (Con) had been forced to resign, because he was not eligible to stand, as he lives and works too far outside the Westbury parish boundaries. In 2009 Mike Cuthbert-Murray was elected to the new unitary Wiltshire County Council for Westbury East as an Independent. In the 2010 General Election, he contested Wiltshire South West unsuccessfully for UKIP.
On 11 December 2008, Bill Braid (Ind) gained a seat in Westbury Ham, following the death of Peter Ezra (Lab).
On 6 July 2009, the Town Council co-opted David Tout (Ind) and Phillip Brown in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignations of Jackie Reed (Con) and Ian Taylor (Con). Jackie Reed was moving to the Peak District with her partner and Ian Taylor was reported to have lost interest, after losing a string of big issue arguments.
On 6 July 2009, the Town Council also co-opted Dorian Jones, described as Westbury Bypass Now campaigner, in Westbury Laverton ward, following the resignation of Horace Prickett (Ind) for personal and private reasons.
On 22 April 2010, Stephen Miles (Ind) and Derrin O’Hara (Ind) were elected in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignations of Charlie Finbow (Con) and Derek Hulin (Con). Charlie Finbow was not prepared to go into detail or bad mouth the council or councillors. Derek Hulin said the reason for his departure was business commitments. He was also unhappy with the town council’s decision to replace the town clerk.
On 12 August 2010, David Jenkins (Lib Dem) was elected unopposed in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignation of Phillip Brown, due to ill health. David Jenkins had been elected in 2009 to the new Wiltshire County Council for Westbury North.
On 24 March 2011, Charles Pope (Con) and Marie Pope (Con) were elected in Westbury Laverton ward from seven candidates, following the resignations of Adam Berrisford (Con) and Georgie Denison-Pender (Con). Adam Berrisford had moved away. The by-elections had been called previously for 17 February 2011, but no candidates were nominated.
On 24 May 2011, Ian Cunningham (Ind) and David Bradshaw (Con) were elected in Westbury Laverton ward, following the resignations of Dorian Jones (Ind) and Marie Pope (Con). Dorian Jones cited work as his reason and Marie Pope also cited work commitments.
On 17 November 2011, Gordon King (Lib Dem) was elected unopposed in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignation of Mike Hawkins (Con), as he no longer wished to part of a group of “self-serving” councilors..
The present council website lists Sue Ezra (Westbury Laverton) and David Windess (Westbury Ham) as Independents, although they were elected in 2007 as Conservatives. Sue Ezra is the current town mayor and David Windess was town mayor in 2011-12.
The present by-election on 1 November 2011 in Westbury Ham ward is caused by the resignation of Bill Braid (Ind), who claimed that the council had become “like a headless chicken with no clear direction”. He was apparently referring to the current town mayor. He hadn’t intended to inflict another by-election on the public – he was just planning to retire in May – but he felt he couldn’t stay as it is.
I do not have the result of the Westbury Ham election on 3 May 2007, but 6 Con, 2 Lab and 1 Ind were elected.
Westbury Ham (11 December 2008): Ind 343, Con 299
Westbury Ham (22 April 2010) (2 seats): Ind 810/624, Con 562
Westbury Ham (12 August 2010): Lib Dem unopposed
Westbury Ham (17 November 2011): Lib Dem unopposed
Candidates for 1 November 2012: 2 No Description and 1 Labour . Horace Prickett is standing again under No Description. The current town mayor has nominated him.
Westbury Town Council comprises 16 members, elected from two wards as follows – Westbury Ham (9) and Westbury Laverton (7).
The town council was elected on 3 May 2007 under the old West Wiltshire District Council. Following the reorganization of Wiltshire as a unitary authority in 2009, the town and parish council elections due in 2011 were cancelled and the term of office of the existing town and parish councilors was extended to 2013.
The council strength on 3 May 2007 (after co-options): Con 11, Ind 3, Lab 2
The council strength on 20 October 2012: Ind 9, Con 3, Lib Dem 2, Lab 1, Vacant 1
As there was a shortfall of two candidates in Westbury Laverton ward, the Town Council co-opted Stephen Andrews (Con) and Horace Prickett (Ind).
Since 2007, 13 town councilors have resigned (including 4 who had replaced others) and 1 died. Only 6 councillors remain out of the 16 elected or co-opted in 2007. There have been 10 councillors elected in 7 polls (3 of them for two seats each). 5 of the polls were contested and 2 were uncontested. The remaining 3 new councillors were co-opted.
On 10 August 2007, Mike Cuthbert-Murray (Ind) gained a seat in Westbury Laverton ward, after Ian Lorimer (Con) had been forced to resign, because he was not eligible to stand, as he lives and works too far outside the Westbury parish boundaries. In 2009 Mike Cuthbert-Murray was elected to the new unitary Wiltshire County Council for Westbury East as an Independent. In the 2010 General Election, he contested Wiltshire South West unsuccessfully for UKIP.
On 11 December 2008, Bill Braid (Ind) gained a seat in Westbury Ham, following the death of Peter Ezra (Lab).
On 6 July 2009, the Town Council co-opted David Tout (Ind) and Phillip Brown in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignations of Jackie Reed (Con) and Ian Taylor (Con). Jackie Reed was moving to the Peak District with her partner and Ian Taylor was reported to have lost interest, after losing a string of big issue arguments.
On 6 July 2009, the Town Council also co-opted Dorian Jones, described as Westbury Bypass Now campaigner, in Westbury Laverton ward, following the resignation of Horace Prickett (Ind) for personal and private reasons.
On 22 April 2010, Stephen Miles (Ind) and Derrin O’Hara (Ind) were elected in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignations of Charlie Finbow (Con) and Derek Hulin (Con). Charlie Finbow was not prepared to go into detail or bad mouth the council or councillors. Derek Hulin said the reason for his departure was business commitments. He was also unhappy with the town council’s decision to replace the town clerk.
On 12 August 2010, David Jenkins (Lib Dem) was elected unopposed in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignation of Phillip Brown, due to ill health. David Jenkins had been elected in 2009 to the new Wiltshire County Council for Westbury North.
On 24 March 2011, Charles Pope (Con) and Marie Pope (Con) were elected in Westbury Laverton ward from seven candidates, following the resignations of Adam Berrisford (Con) and Georgie Denison-Pender (Con). Adam Berrisford had moved away. The by-elections had been called previously for 17 February 2011, but no candidates were nominated.
On 24 May 2011, Ian Cunningham (Ind) and David Bradshaw (Con) were elected in Westbury Laverton ward, following the resignations of Dorian Jones (Ind) and Marie Pope (Con). Dorian Jones cited work as his reason and Marie Pope also cited work commitments.
On 17 November 2011, Gordon King (Lib Dem) was elected unopposed in Westbury Ham ward, following the resignation of Mike Hawkins (Con), as he no longer wished to part of a group of “self-serving” councilors..
The present council website lists Sue Ezra (Westbury Laverton) and David Windess (Westbury Ham) as Independents, although they were elected in 2007 as Conservatives. Sue Ezra is the current town mayor and David Windess was town mayor in 2011-12.
The present by-election on 1 November 2011 in Westbury Ham ward is caused by the resignation of Bill Braid (Ind), who claimed that the council had become “like a headless chicken with no clear direction”. He was apparently referring to the current town mayor. He hadn’t intended to inflict another by-election on the public – he was just planning to retire in May – but he felt he couldn’t stay as it is.
I do not have the result of the Westbury Ham election on 3 May 2007, but 6 Con, 2 Lab and 1 Ind were elected.
Westbury Ham (11 December 2008): Ind 343, Con 299
Westbury Ham (22 April 2010) (2 seats): Ind 810/624, Con 562
Westbury Ham (12 August 2010): Lib Dem unopposed
Westbury Ham (17 November 2011): Lib Dem unopposed
Candidates for 1 November 2012: 2 No Description and 1 Labour . Horace Prickett is standing again under No Description. The current town mayor has nominated him.
