No by-election is to be held for a vacant seat on Marlborough Town Council following the surprise resignation last month of former mayor Robin Notton, a Conservative councillor who sat for East Ward.
Although the six-strong Tory group has now been reduced to only four members, they are not to put up a candidate to contest the seat prior the full town council elections due in May next year.
The vacancy was advertised by Wiltshire Council, the local electoral authority, giving the opportunity for 10 local residents to demand a by-election but no petition for a poll has been received.
“Wiltshire Council has since advised that the town council is now authorised to co-opt a local elector to serve until in council elections in May, 2013,” town clerk Derek Wolfe will inform the council at its next meeting on Monday.
One reason for not holding a by-election is believed to be the low standing of the current Tory-led coalition government and the effect its austerity measures are having on local services as well as individual families and businesses.
One local resident whose name is likely to be put forward for co-option is Val Compton, a local activist best known for leading the High Court fight to save Savernake Hospital as a minor injuries.