Do you want to be a Swaffham Town Councillor?

CURRENT COUNCILLOR VACANCY and MAY ELECTIONS.

Following the resignation of Cllr Steve Allen it has been decided by the Council to fill the Vacancy by Co-option at the meeting on Wednesday 12th December 2018. There will not be a By-election as there is less than six months to go before the Local Government Elections are held on 2nd May 2019. If there are any interested members of the public that are eligible for election to the Town Council, they should put forward a letter to the Town Clerk Richard Bishop expressing their interest in the Vacancy.

Town Clerk Richard Bishop explained

“The Mayor and Councillors were sad to see Cllr Steve Allen resign and thank him sincerely for his contribution over the last three and a half years. There was no decision taken at the November meeting as to whether the Council would fill the vacancy, as legally it need not be filled until May 2019. However, there is already interest in the Vacancy and we are still two weeks away from the meeting, so if anyone is interested, now is the time to state your case. The decision to Co-opt has been taken by the Council, and this now provides clarity, it will also give whoever is duly Co-opted some valuable experience of five months or so, before the Local Government Elections in May next year.”

The Co-option also coincides with the first of two ‘Do you want to be a Councillor?” events planned by the Town Council, as this will take place earlier on the 12th December starting at 5pm.

Town Mayor Cllr Colin Houghton stated

“Swaffham has always actively encouraged people to stand for election to the Town Council and the May election next year is no different, our event on the 12th December has a little added spice to the occasion now though, as one of those attending could actually be Co-opted to the Town Council an hour and a half later. If not, they still have a chance of being elected on 2nd May next year, which will soon be upon us. Being a Councillor sometimes can be a thankless task, as you can be targeted for complaints, but equally it can be very rewarding, as you can make a difference to your community. It is democracy in action at the grass roots level, the closest to the people that they represent.”

All expressions of interest in the Vacancy can be addressed to Richard Bishop (Town Clerk), Town Hall, 4 London Street, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7DQ. E-mail townclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk by close of business i.e. 5pm on the 12th December 2018. If the successful candidate is present at the meeting on the 12th December, they could effectively sign their declaration of office and participate in the remainder of the meeting as a fully-fledged Town Councillor.