Following the recent retirement of Councillor Noel Barrett-Morton a vacancy has arisen in the West Ward of Marlborough. Currently there are fifteen Councillors, whereas the Council table has places for sixteen.
Below is the notice calling for requests for an election to take place.
What happens now? If ten people (qualified to vote) write – and submit a form which is viewable and downloadable here – to the returning officer at the address given on the notice by Thursday 2 May then an election will be called. There will then be a call for nominations to stand at that election. If only one applies, then they will be elected on an ‘uncontested’ basis. If no-one applies, then reset – and probably go to a co-option process, where any prospective councillor will be selected by their peers – i.e. the other Councillors. The only downside here is that this process is of questionable democratic merit. A new Councillor would be elected by the unelected Councillors, as only one sitting Councillor – Caroline Sadler is there by the will of the residents of Marlborough.
The role of Town Councillor is an important and responsible position. Decisions are made at Council sessions that do affect the lives, well-being and economic health of Marlborough and the people who live here. The decision to do away with the membership of the Great West Way tourist initiative – which affects the livelihood of traders in the town – was taken by unelected Councillors behind closed doors. In secret and no minutes issued. There was also recent discussion at a meeting where a suggestion was made that the entire Grounds team should be replaced by an outsourcing contractor. Why – because ‘they cost a lot’. No consideration of the role they play or what they do for the town – their actions during the recent flooding is an excellent example of their importance to us all. That was voted down by a majority of councillors present at that meeting, but such decisions and issues do have a real bearing on what happens in this town, so consider standing to represent your neighbours, to make life in Marlborough as good as can be……