General Discussion

I understand that a councillor has resigned from the board.
Is there anyone suitable out there to join the muppets that we already have. Fancy a crack at joining the click, there appear to plenty more in Dawlish who could fit the bill.

To be slightly less jaundiced than Viaduct....

.....there is indeed a Cllr vacancy on Dawlish Town Council. One of the councillors having resigned.

There are two ways this vacancy can be filled - by election or by co-option.

1. Election. For this to happen at least 10 electors on the Dawlish Electoral Register must register that they wish a bye election to take place. These electors must write (not e-mail) a letter to The Returning Officer, Electoral Roll Dept, Forde House, Newton Abbot. The letter must give electors' names and addresses and MUST BE SIGNED BY EACH ELECTOR. This doesn't have to take the form of 10 separate letters - it can just be the one signed by (at least) 10 members of the Dawlish Parish electorate.

This letter/these letters must be received by the Returning Officer no later than 14 days after the date of the resignation. The date of the official resignation was Wednesday 9th April.

If at least 10 electors call for a bye election as per above, that bye election must take place within 60 days of the councillor resigning.

For more info contact Cathy Ruelens at the Electoral Roll dept, TDC. Tel: 01626 361101.

2. Co-option. If a bye-election isn't called the Councillor vacancy will be filled by the present councillors co-opting someone. In other words, instead of the Dawlish electorate deciding who should be elected the present councillors will do so.

Me not jaundiced.
DECLARATION OF CASUAL VACANCY
A Casual Vacancy for Parish Councillor may arise for a number of reasons, such as the resignation or disqualification of a serving Councillor, and must be brought to the attention of the Parish Council and the vacancy formally declared by the Council. If the Council has not formally delegated urgent matters such as this to the Clerk, it must be brought before the Parish Council who, within a reasonable time which we suggest is 21 days, must declare the Casual Vacancy. (Advertise in local paper and/or in a prominent position)

PUBLIC NOTICE
Immediately upon the declaration of a Casual Vacancy, the Clerk should post standard notices.
Until that happens, no one outside of the council would know of a vacancy and would therefore be denied the right to call for an election.
Does that sound right?

for once agree with you Viaduct 100%

I notice that there is no advertisement in the Gazette or on the council web site for this vacancy. So is there or is there not a vacancy I ask?

If there is a vacancy it will be filled by a
closed shop vote, there is no democracy in Town Councils its the secret handshake 'Old Boys Club' brigade

come on Democrat answer the man

We will hear about the vacancy after it has been filled

Under the Local Government Act 1972
232.
Public notices.
— (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided, a public notice required to be given by a local authority shall be given—
(a)
by posting the notice in some conspicuous place or places within the area of the local authority; and
(b)
in such other manner, if any, as appears to the local authority to be desirable for giving publicity to the notice.

I have yet to see a notice, has anyone seen a notice?
Nothing in the paper this week or last. Nothing in the library or the Tourist Information Office.
So is it hearsay?

Force a bye election. Put your names down as candidates.

The most important thing at any election,DONT VOTE FOR THE LIB/LAB/CON, their all the same. Talk to the candidates face to face , vote for any other party than the 3 main ones. Once they start losing seats they may start listening.

No one needs to put there name down as candidates. All that is required is for ten people to sign a letter calling for a bye election. Then the flood gates will open. We will then have a chance to see who will join the existing muppets, or should that be puppets?