Unitary Bid Still Causing Chaos
July 5, 2010 7:30 PM
The decision to probably hold this year's round of Exeter City Council elections at the height of the holiday season has been described as "nuts" by local Lib Dem Graham Oakes.
The elections were deferred by the last Labour government as part of their plans to turn Exeter into a unitary authority - a move quashed by the incoming Coalition government. A judge has now decided the Labour government acted unlawfully in extending the terms of the councillors and has ordered that they be turned out of office, including Tim Payne who was elected this May in a by-election.
Amongst councillors who have been removed from office are the Labour and Tory Leaders and leading Lib Dem Stella Brock.
The elections might now be held on August 12th when thousands of electors will be away on their holidays.
Graham Oakes commented: "This is plain nuts"
"There are other examples of councillors having their terms extended and common sense would suggest holding the elections next May or at least in the Autumn would be better ideas rather than holding the elections when the largest number of people will be away from the city including thousands of students.
"The decision for Tim Payne to lose his seat having only just been elected is crazy and undemocratic.
"Labour spent 4 years wasting many hundreds of thousands of pounds over the unitary bid and even now Exonians will have to pay for an extra set of elections and the legal costs of the court case.
"Ben Bradshaw owes the electors of Exeter an apology, his failed attempts to get unitary status purely for party political gain has cost the city a fortune over 4 years. "
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