Co-options , not elections: letter from David Sherratt

Sirs,

Having served as one of the last Mayors of the Borough before its powers were taken away in 1974 and the Council being reduced to a Parish Council, a non-executive body, one can sympathise with David Chandler’s letter regretting the decline of the current Town Council into a self-perpetuating oligarchy co-opting members since no one wishes to stand for election to the body. It is small consolation to know that this decline is nationwide and some parish councils have withered and died rather than keep on co-opting members.

But there is nothing new in this. In the late 18th Century much of the Borough was owned by the Earls of Ailesbury whose family represented the Town in Parliament – a true ‘pocket Borough’. Thomas the then Earl Purchased the Castle Inn and it was there on Fridays after the full moon that he sat with men of influence the Baverstocks, Lypeatts, and Merrimans and chose who should be members of the Borough Council. One example of their methods lies in the choice of Charles Francis to be a member. He was chosen to be a Burgess (who elected the members of the Common Council) on one day, on the following day he became a member of the Common Council (who elected the Mayor), and on the third day he rose again this time to be elected Borough Mayor.

The fact that he did not live in the Borough – he was Rector of both Minal and Collingbourne Ducis – and Domestic Chaplain to his Lordship may have influenced the choice. No wonder that the Earl’s successor, the first Marquess vigorously opposed the agitation for Reform and the Reform Act of 1831. A humble Sergeant-at Mace who had unwittingly signed a petition supporting Reform was sacked for his effrontery.

The Town Council has a disappointing record of people who have been co-opted and who have left after serving one 4 year term. These recently include a co-opted member who was elected deputy mayor but withdrew, honourably, because his principal residence is outside the three-mile limit in Devizes. Rumour has it that a current Councillor has a principal residence some 43.7 miles away and thus does not live in the Town. The spirit of Earl Thomas must be smiling when the Council assembles for a meeting !

Yours,

David Sherratt
Marlborough