Princes Risborough Cllr: By-election cost could raise council tax or cancel festival

12:30pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in Politics By Rebecca Cain

Gary Hall Gary Hall

A TOWN councillor has warned that an annual festival may have to be scrapped due to the cost of a by-election which has been called in Princes Risborough.

Cllr Gary Hall, who is currently Mayor and chairman of Princes Risborough Town Council, said he is "very concerned" about the cost of a by-election .

Following the resignation of long serving town councillor, Eunice Clifford, 21 people wrote to Wycombe District Council calling for the vote.

A by-election may be called by ten electors for the relevant parish council as long as the requests are received within 14 working days of the notice of vacancy being published. No specific reason has to be given.

But Cllr Hall said they haven't had a by-election for about 30 years and a new councillor is normally voted in by fellow councillors (co-opted) during a term.

He said it is going to cost the town council an estimated £8,000.

Cllr Hall said: "This isn't budgeted for. It will have to come from somewhere within our budget or reserves.

"Either we put the council tax up, which we haven't done for years, or something like the festival will have to go."

He said he was very concerned that the people calling for a by-election did so before any candidates were put forward.

The Free Press requested to see the 21 names, which are listed below.

Last May in the town council election there were 25 candidates, of which 13 were elected.

Of the 21 names calling for a by-election Iain McLauchlan was the only one that stood in the election last year. Mr McLauchlan said he does not believe co-option is transparent enough.

He said: "Mainly I feel the people of Risborough need a say on who they choose to be on the town council as opposed to just the town councillors selecting whoever they feel they want to."

Mr McLauchlan intends to stand again. He said he went around the town and spoke to people he thought would be willing to support a by-election.

He said he was under the impression that the town council had reserves for contingencies like this.

Town cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown said: "I wonder who Gary Hall thinks he is to try and deny Princes Risborough residents their vote.
 

"It is almost Stalinistic what he is trying to do at the moment.
 

"He thinks the town council should choose a councillor but that is not a democracy."
 

He said the council has reserves to pay for the election and the annual town festival will not be cancelled, as funding also comes from other avenues.

Wycombe District Council spokesman Nick Sykes said: "There is no standard cost for a by-election – it will depend on how big the parish is, how many electors, how many polling stations/staff, how many postal votes, whether poll cards are issued etc (the only decision the parish council has the authority to make is to whether poll-cards are issued)."

A by-election will be held on September 13. A formal notice of election will be published towards the beginning of August. Nominations will be accepted from the day after the notice is published, and will close at 12pm on August 16.

The following people requested a by-election.

 

  • Angela Adlam
  • Lance Adlam
  • Trevor Fitch
  • Carol Fitch
  • L Hodgkinson
  • D.R.Hodgkinson
  • Geoffrey Bending
  • Leonard Blake
  • Judith Bunting
  • Frederick Fuller
  • C. Jordan
  • Norman Lucas
  • G.Page
  • Iain McLauchlan
  • Peter Rainbow
  • A.J.Summerfield
  • I.Summerfield
  • Frances Thomas-Davies
  • J.T. Thomas-Davies
  • Derek Wetter
  • Elayne Barnard

Comments (12)

12:43pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

I must agree with Gary. It's a waste of money to call a by-election.

I would have to wonder if this is politically motivated rather than in the interests of the good town folk.

I wonder who is behind this - looking at the names, it looks as if someone has been driving this forward/knocking on doors and asking for spouses to have their names added to the list to beef up the numbers.

It would be a big shame to miss out on something just so that one person would advance their own interests above the rest of the townsfolk!
Who is behind this or which political party is behind this?
I must agree with Gary. It's a waste of money to call a by-election. I would have to wonder if this is politically motivated rather than in the interests of the good town folk. I wonder who is behind this - looking at the names, it looks as if someone has been driving this forward/knocking on doors and asking for spouses to have their names added to the list to beef up the numbers. It would be a big shame to miss out on something just so that one person would advance their own interests above the rest of the townsfolk! Who is behind this or which political party is behind this? Darren Hayday

1:11pm Wed 25 Jul 12

yog says...

Can we not get it arranged for the same day as the pointless Police Commissioner elections in Nov?
Can we not get it arranged for the same day as the pointless Police Commissioner elections in Nov? yog

3:07pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

yog wrote:
Can we not get it arranged for the same day as the pointless Police Commissioner elections in Nov?
Very good point! ;op
[quote][p][bold]yog[/bold] wrote: Can we not get it arranged for the same day as the pointless Police Commissioner elections in Nov?[/p][/quote]Very good point! ;op Darren Hayday

9:14am Thu 26 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

I've now heard that I was correct in my assumptions.

This is led by one man (for political reasons i.e. he wants to get himself elected) and it looks as if every member on that list is a Conservative paid up member...

How very sad that this may well mean that the fair would have to be cancelled to pay for a by-election driven by the Tories in Princes Risborough for one man (which I shall not name).
I've now heard that I was correct in my assumptions. This is led by one man (for political reasons i.e. he wants to get himself elected) and it looks as if every member on that list is a Conservative paid up member... How very sad that this may well mean that the fair would have to be cancelled to pay for a by-election driven by the Tories in Princes Risborough for one man (which I shall not name). Darren Hayday

9:17am Thu 26 Jul 12

totteridge resident says...

It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council.
It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council. totteridge resident

10:45am Thu 26 Jul 12

fair say says...

totteridge resident wrote:
It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council.
Well said totteridge resident. Gary Hall says it will cost £8,000 , maybe he could tell us how much it cost for people to have there say on the one way system -which the council then decided not to take any notice of the true results. Maybe the could use the £5,000 that they have put towards the new Community Centre that they are only THINKING about.
Gary Hall should remember we live in a democracy not a dictatorship.
[quote][p][bold]totteridge resident[/bold] wrote: It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council.[/p][/quote]Well said totteridge resident. Gary Hall says it will cost £8,000 , maybe he could tell us how much it cost for people to have there say on the one way system -which the council then decided not to take any notice of the true results. Maybe the could use the £5,000 that they have put towards the new Community Centre that they are only THINKING about. Gary Hall should remember we live in a democracy not a dictatorship. fair say

3:33pm Thu 26 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

fair say wrote:
totteridge resident wrote:
It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council.
Well said totteridge resident. Gary Hall says it will cost £8,000 , maybe he could tell us how much it cost for people to have there say on the one way system -which the council then decided not to take any notice of the true results. Maybe the could use the £5,000 that they have put towards the new Community Centre that they are only THINKING about.
Gary Hall should remember we live in a democracy not a dictatorship.
Dear Madam,

Are you not yourself a Conservative?
I have seen your other comments and you seem to also be politically motivated to speak out against Independent Cllrs/ or other parties that are not Conservative.
This is one of the reasons that most people are getting turned off by politics because of this need to ‘group together’ within the main political parties such as the Conservatives.
People are interested in their local area, not in political point scoring as you are clearly doing.
One man is behind this drive for a by-election – and rather than waiting for the next full election, the local Conservative party are pushing to get one of their own in at the expense of everyone else not being able to hold the next fair.
This is just another reason why I personally decided to leave the Conservatives – it is still very much the ‘nasty party’ I’m afraid.
More now that it was when I joined 10 yrs ago.
It’s time that the Conservatives changed and started to connect with the people, rather than only looking out for its own rank and file.
I’m embarrassed of what it’s become.
[quote][p][bold]fair say[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]totteridge resident[/bold] wrote: It is good to see that democracy is coming to Princes Risborough, Filling vacancies with one of your mates is not a good way to run a council and it is a welcome sign that people are willing to be judged by their electors to get onto the council.[/p][/quote]Well said totteridge resident. Gary Hall says it will cost £8,000 , maybe he could tell us how much it cost for people to have there say on the one way system -which the council then decided not to take any notice of the true results. Maybe the could use the £5,000 that they have put towards the new Community Centre that they are only THINKING about. Gary Hall should remember we live in a democracy not a dictatorship.[/p][/quote]Dear Madam, Are you not yourself a Conservative? I have seen your other comments and you seem to also be politically motivated to speak out against Independent Cllrs/ or other parties that are not Conservative. This is one of the reasons that most people are getting turned off by politics because of this need to ‘group together’ within the main political parties such as the Conservatives. People are interested in their local area, not in political point scoring as you are clearly doing. One man is behind this drive for a by-election – and rather than waiting for the next full election, the local Conservative party are pushing to get one of their own in at the expense of everyone else not being able to hold the next fair. This is just another reason why I personally decided to leave the Conservatives – it is still very much the ‘nasty party’ I’m afraid. More now that it was when I joined 10 yrs ago. It’s time that the Conservatives changed and started to connect with the people, rather than only looking out for its own rank and file. I’m embarrassed of what it’s become. Darren Hayday

4:33pm Thu 26 Jul 12

fair say says...

So according to Darren Hayday if I don't like how councillors are spending MY council tax . I have to belong to a political party. I'm sorry but we live in a democracy today and I have a right to have MY say without belonging to any political party or isn't that allowed. The Suffragettes fought for the right to vote and my ancestors fought for free speech and democracy so I am having my say. Or does Darren Hayday think women shouldn't have the right to vote or free speech.
So according to Darren Hayday if I don't like how councillors are spending MY council tax . I have to belong to a political party. I'm sorry but we live in a democracy today and I have a right to have MY say without belonging to any political party or isn't that allowed. The Suffragettes fought for the right to vote and my ancestors fought for free speech and democracy so I am having my say. Or does Darren Hayday think women shouldn't have the right to vote or free speech. fair say

5:03pm Thu 26 Jul 12

Yorkshiretyke1 says...

It's a little surprising that the council are not rushing to spend some more money - they were keen to spend £65k on useless traffic management and to take on an expensive loan for a new burial ground plus £5k for thinking about a new building that nobody wants. Spending money seems to be their forte
It's a little surprising that the council are not rushing to spend some more money - they were keen to spend £65k on useless traffic management and to take on an expensive loan for a new burial ground plus £5k for thinking about a new building that nobody wants. Spending money seems to be their forte Yorkshiretyke1

5:04pm Thu 26 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

fair say wrote:
So according to Darren Hayday if I don't like how councillors are spending MY council tax . I have to belong to a political party. I'm sorry but we live in a democracy today and I have a right to have MY say without belonging to any political party or isn't that allowed. The Suffragettes fought for the right to vote and my ancestors fought for free speech and democracy so I am having my say. Or does Darren Hayday think women shouldn't have the right to vote or free speech.
I don’t like people that feel the need to hide behind pseudonyms and bleat on about free speech (it seems to go hand in hand these days)
Why are you not honest about who you are?
You are a member of the Conservative party – I know.
You have a right to vote, as do I being a mere man. We are both extremely lucky to have that privilege.
In this case, the issue is about holding a by-election / spending £8,000 (approx) where the money has to come from somewhere to pay for this folly.
The truth is that one man wants to have the opportunity to call a by-election and is being backed by his local Conservative party (and their family members) at the expense of the rest of the good people of Princes Risbourgh.
If you offered to pay this cost, then I see no problem with the by-election going ahead – however if you feel that it’s worth the cost at the chance that the Tories can put together a active campaign to get ‘one of their own’ in – then I see this as yet another point of what’s making people turn off from politics and the type of self serving politicians that are giving the rest a bad name.
I’ve met his sort over many years and he’s only interested in himself.

======== WHY NOT SEE DARREN HAYDAY’s BLOG =========
[quote][p][bold]fair say[/bold] wrote: So according to Darren Hayday if I don't like how councillors are spending MY council tax . I have to belong to a political party. I'm sorry but we live in a democracy today and I have a right to have MY say without belonging to any political party or isn't that allowed. The Suffragettes fought for the right to vote and my ancestors fought for free speech and democracy so I am having my say. Or does Darren Hayday think women shouldn't have the right to vote or free speech.[/p][/quote]I don’t like people that feel the need to hide behind pseudonyms and bleat on about free speech (it seems to go hand in hand these days) Why are you not honest about who you are? You are a member of the Conservative party – I know. You have a right to vote, as do I being a mere man. We are both extremely lucky to have that privilege. In this case, the issue is about holding a by-election / spending £8,000 (approx) where the money has to come from somewhere to pay for this folly. The truth is that one man wants to have the opportunity to call a by-election and is being backed by his local Conservative party (and their family members) at the expense of the rest of the good people of Princes Risbourgh. If you offered to pay this cost, then I see no problem with the by-election going ahead – however if you feel that it’s worth the cost at the chance that the Tories can put together a active campaign to get ‘one of their own’ in – then I see this as yet another point of what’s making people turn off from politics and the type of self serving politicians that are giving the rest a bad name. I’ve met his sort over many years and he’s only interested in himself. ======== WHY NOT SEE DARREN HAYDAY’s BLOG ========= Darren Hayday

6:04pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Rizzer says...

Difficult to know which way to think on this one.

On the one hand we pay the largest council tax in the district. When it says "put the council tax up, which we haven't done for years" that means since it went up in 2010, after a 21% hike in 2009". Saving money would seem to be a good idea. However, the latest published accounts show an annual precept income of £350k. Compare this with £8k being quoted for an election.

On the other hand there's little democracy here. My response to the one-way system questionnaire was one of the 30% which were ignored because I'd photocopied it rather than used the official form. (But it would have counted if I'd emailed or sent a letter. Perhaps it depended on which boxes we ticked. Including our votes would have meant that the 'wrong' decision would have won.)

Perhaps it's better not to cross the councillors - they seem very sensitive if previous BFP articles about the “Mr Dumpty” blog are correct.
Difficult to know which way to think on this one. On the one hand we pay the largest council tax in the district. When it says "put the council tax up, which we haven't done for years" that means since it went up in 2010, after a 21% hike in 2009". Saving money would seem to be a good idea. However, the latest published accounts show an annual precept income of £350k. Compare this with £8k being quoted for an election. On the other hand there's little democracy here. My response to the one-way system questionnaire was one of the 30% which were ignored because I'd photocopied it rather than used the official form. (But it would have counted if I'd emailed or sent a letter. Perhaps it depended on which boxes we ticked. Including our votes would have meant that the 'wrong' decision would have won.) Perhaps it's better not to cross the councillors - they seem very sensitive if previous BFP articles about the “Mr Dumpty” blog are correct. Rizzer

10:06am Sat 28 Jul 12

Darren Hayday says...

Rizzer wrote:
Difficult to know which way to think on this one.

On the one hand we pay the largest council tax in the district. When it says "put the council tax up, which we haven't done for years" that means since it went up in 2010, after a 21% hike in 2009". Saving money would seem to be a good idea. However, the latest published accounts show an annual precept income of £350k. Compare this with £8k being quoted for an election.

On the other hand there's little democracy here. My response to the one-way system questionnaire was one of the 30% which were ignored because I'd photocopied it rather than used the official form. (But it would have counted if I'd emailed or sent a letter. Perhaps it depended on which boxes we ticked. Including our votes would have meant that the 'wrong' decision would have won.)

Perhaps it's better not to cross the councillors - they seem very sensitive if previous BFP articles about the “Mr Dumpty” blog are correct.
What are you going on about?

This is a story about one man calling a by-election because he (being a Tory) wants to become a Cllr for PR.

It will cost us the taxpayers somewhere between £8,000 - £10,000 to do so.

Your comments are pointless and baseless.

Yet another person writing under a pseudonym and not declaring which political way that he dresses..

Are you saying that you are anti the ruling Tory party that runs WDC and sets the budgets, or for having a Tory called by-election to get another blue seat on the Council?

Having an outside view and using some common sense here - it seems prudent (especially in there extremely hard times) to have someone in place short term and then wait a couple of years for the next WDC elections - rather than pay out all this money on the by-election called by the local Conservatives - anything else is just bias in favour of the conservative party ambitions to get one of their own in here. Isn’t it?

Anyone would think that you are a friend of BBB...
[quote][p][bold]Rizzer[/bold] wrote: Difficult to know which way to think on this one. On the one hand we pay the largest council tax in the district. When it says "put the council tax up, which we haven't done for years" that means since it went up in 2010, after a 21% hike in 2009". Saving money would seem to be a good idea. However, the latest published accounts show an annual precept income of £350k. Compare this with £8k being quoted for an election. On the other hand there's little democracy here. My response to the one-way system questionnaire was one of the 30% which were ignored because I'd photocopied it rather than used the official form. (But it would have counted if I'd emailed or sent a letter. Perhaps it depended on which boxes we ticked. Including our votes would have meant that the 'wrong' decision would have won.) Perhaps it's better not to cross the councillors - they seem very sensitive if previous BFP articles about the “Mr Dumpty” blog are correct.[/p][/quote]What are you going on about? This is a story about one man calling a by-election because he (being a Tory) wants to become a Cllr for PR. It will cost us the taxpayers somewhere between £8,000 - £10,000 to do so. Your comments are pointless and baseless. Yet another person writing under a pseudonym and not declaring which political way that he dresses.. Are you saying that you are anti the ruling Tory party that runs WDC and sets the budgets, or for having a Tory called by-election to get another blue seat on the Council? Having an outside view and using some common sense here - it seems prudent (especially in there extremely hard times) to have someone in place short term and then wait a couple of years for the next WDC elections - rather than pay out all this money on the by-election called by the local Conservatives - anything else is just bias in favour of the conservative party ambitions to get one of their own in here. Isn’t it? Anyone would think that you are a friend of BBB... Darren Hayday

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