The Council is a third tier authority on a par with a parish council. It is contested fiercely by the political parties. Thursday's election has resulted in 9 Labour, 7 Conservative and 2 Liberal Democrat councillors. One ward returned 5 Labour councillors. The electorate voted in 5 Conservative and 2 Liberal Democrats in another ward. In the ward gained by Labour from the Conservatives at the Borough Council elections the electorate returned 4 Labour and 2 Conservatives. There were no candidates from other parties and no Independents.
Always a very 'political' council it will be interesting to follow the deliberations of the wannabee serious politicians fighting over minor issues.
KENT COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: acerbic, carping, caustic, curmudgeonly,critical, cynical, grumpy, moaning, sardonic and plain speaking.
Hi John - This is the first time I have visited your website.
ReplyDeleteSouthborough Town Council is elected every four years has three multi-member wards and a total of 18 councillors. So the electoral system is multi-member first past the post. Usually the East and West wards, at least, attract a higher pole than for the borough election held on the same day. But the pole was almost identical this time. Obviously AV and borough were simple first past the post so I wonder if the AV debate slanted the general rule?
I make this suggestion because Labour campaigned on issues but I think conservatives campaigned on complicated voting systems. I don't know the pole for AV in the two wards so I can't co-oberate my guess but looking at the ballot papers the Southborough Town ballot was the complicated paper is usually the popular one but was not this time.
I was one of the two unsuccessful Labour candidates. It is interesting election to follow including the count. Many people vote for people they know then there preferred party. Usually people at the bottom of the list drop off I was the furthest down at L but also B dropped off at the other end. Clearly I have a personal vote and possibly any anti-personal vote.
That personal vote for myself comes from neighbours I guess people I canvassed regularly and know me by name, Conservatives who like the way that I explain my reasons for voting and vote that way without pandering to the ordinance to the ordinance. That I have a view point.
In summary voting is not democracy but public accountability and openness which you get with left of centre party's comes quite close.
In conclusion although Southborough is not quite the Third Socialist Republic it is a good mix of democracy, self interest and outside bigger interests. As John you say worth watching.