Co-option stained by party manilpulation
YOUR Crow Comment column last week suggests that a secret ballot over the election of a co-opted member to Royston Town Council seemed undesirable. Quite the opposite is the case. It wasn t the case of councillors having anything to hide, but a way of t
YOUR Crow Comment column last week suggests that a secret ballot over the election of a co-opted member to Royston Town Council seemed undesirable.
Quite the opposite is the case.
It wasn't the case of councillors having anything to hide, but a way of teasing out votes from members to support their choice of candidate rather than simply toe the party line.
The secret ballot gave members of the virtually one-party state we know as the town council to put the community above politics.
As the result shows this was not the case and once again we have a decision which has been stained by party manipulation.
The procedure for voting needs to be questioned, too. The rules outlined to the candidates were actually changed on the evening in a move seemingly designed to prevent any other candidate standing against the one chosen by the Conservatives.
Most Read
- 1 Ian Stewart murder trial: Killer 'restricted wife's breathing and fabricated epilepsy death'
- 2 Trial begins for killer accused of murdering wife
- 3 Meet team behind new Royston Town Party
- 4 Women trapped in vehicle after A10 crash
- 5 Time-lapse video: Nightingale surge hub build at Lister Hospital
- 6 He strangled Rikki, stripped him and left his body flat on his back, Old Bailey told
- 7 Downing Street and its South Cambs connections
- 8 Cancer nurse's warning over drop in cervical screening
- 9 Imperial War Museums launches first ever IWM Live event at Duxford this year
- 10 Gripping retelling of Blood Brothers coming to the ADC Theatre in Cambridge
At least some councillors did stand up and be counted in an attempt to keep the integrity of the town council.
The town council needs to adopt a policy to be enshrined in its standing orders over the co-opting of members so that everyone involved is aware of the procedure.
LES BAKER
Kneesworth Street
Royston
