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by election - t (8th May 2015 - 19:11:13) can any one on here tell me how we go about getting a by elsction in liphook ie howlong do we have ? how we go about it ? im sure dawn or jane will be able to tell us

Re: by election - S (8th May 2015 - 20:01:13) ...Doesn't someone have to die or resign for this to occur? Can you explain why you think that we need a by election? Do you mean at the parish level to fill the spaces due to the lack of candidates? If so, don't those spaces get filled through people being co-opted, rather than needing a by-election?

Re: by election - Dawn Hoskins (9th May 2015 - 11:54:12) There are particular rules which apply 6 months before or after a general election; so we will fall into a ‘casual vacancy’ situation shortly, but in general the rules are thus: Parish councils comprise unpaid councillors who are elected to serve for four years unless a casual vacancy arises which may be filled by a by-election or by co-option. It is always hoped that enough people will come forward to create a ‘contested’ Election whereby people have to think about who to choose and only the candidates with the most votes get through. Where there are fewer candidates than vacant seats, the result is ‘Uncontested’ election where no one gets a vote and everyone that wanted to get in – gets in the parish council has the power to co-opt persons to fill the vacancies. They do this if quorate and should do so within 35 days of the election. What happens next is that the Parish Council have to inform EHDC that the election was a no-contest and that not all seats were filled. The options are then co-options to fill the remaining spaces which is free to the tax payer; or a bye-election which will be charged by EHDC at about £6,000. Firstly a Public Notice is published and put on all Village Notice Boards. This explains that there are Casual Vacancies’. This is sent to the Returning Officer at EHDC who will record that either co-options or a bye-election is to take place in the Parish. At this point, Parishioners [eligible voters from the parish] can lodge their request for there to be an election held at tax payer’s expense rather than rely on a co-option of new members. The Returning Officer will then publish the bye-election and candidates can put their names forward in the normal way. An Election will only happen if:- after 14 days of the Public Notice more than 10 electors request it, in writing, to the returning officer. If no request is received, the parish council will be required to fill the vacancies by co-option HOWEVER- in our case; there is still a danger of not enough interested parties coming forward even if more than 10 people request it . If this happens a second time, then the Parish Council must co-opt new members. No more time or money can be wasted on it and the seats must be filled. 2 strikes and you’re out! Once elected the Parish Councilors will have to oversee the running of allotments, village hall, millennium hall, the Rec, the park, the ditches and watercourses in the parish, the children’s play area, the cemeteries and churchyards, be employers to all the staff, encourage volunteers to come forward for the benefit of the parish, book acts or entertainment for the parish to attend, be guardian of common land were required, look after all the buildings within the control ownership of the Parish Council control litter, provide and maintain the public toilet (and get it de-vandalized every week!) maintain all the rights of way in the parish, grant [or not] unclassified highways and footpaths, work with Hampshire who look after the Bus shelters, sign posts, traffic calming and verges with the parishes input; including encouraging volunteers for Speedwatch Schemes, pass judgement on every single planning application in the parish, continue drafting the Parish Plan or Neighbourhood Plan, visit neighbours of controversial planning applications, draft and re-draft the Standing Orders and ensure compliance, attend weekly and monthly meetings, negotiate with stakeholders such as the National Trust, English Heritage and the police. (Actually the list goes on and on. If you are interested in standing; the best people to speak to are current councillors about their duties and the time it takes up. That way you go into it with your eyes open)). If you want to stand when the notices are published you must be at least one of the following:– an elector of the parish OR during the whole of the last 12 months they have either occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish OR their principal or only place of work is in the parish OR they live within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of the parish boundary.You can not be an employee of the Parish Council at the time the nomination papers are closed. Hope that helps!!

Re: by election - peter (11th May 2015 - 21:58:48) Dawn, How many places remain vacant? Peter

Re: by election - Dawn Hoskins (12th May 2015 - 10:41:31) covered in this thread The NEW Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council

Re: by election - kat (12th May 2015 - 11:17:58) I think it is three.

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