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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COUNCIL
29 SEPTEMBER 2021
REPORT OF THE DEMOCRACY AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2021
WHOLE COUNCIL ELECTIONS – DECISION STAGE
Issue for Decision
To consider the results of the consultation carried out on whole council elections and decide whether or not to change to whole council elections.
Recommendations Made
That Council agrees the following motion, with a requirement of a majority of at least two-thirds of the members voting on it, for it to be implemented:
“That Maidstone Borough Council hereby adopts a scheme of whole council elections, meaning an electoral cycle of one election every four years with all councillors being elected, with the first such election being in 2024.”
Reasons for Recommendation
At its meeting on 8 September 2021, the Committee considered the outcomes of the public consultation on whole council elections. 3,130 responses were received and of the respondents who expressed a preference, 71.6% were in favour of whole council elections, and the result was within the margin of error that would be expected for a survey of that scale.
The Committee also considered the agreed whole council election factors, political factors, survey response, financial implications and other relevant considerations in deciding whether to recommend whole council elections to Council.
A date of 2024 was recommended as it meets the requirements of not being a county council election year and is the year that the Council will already have all out elections in response to the Local Government Boundary Review.
Alternatives Considered and Why Not Recommended
To not agree to change to whole council elections, but in the event that Council does not achieve the necessary majority to change to whole council elections the Committee resolved the following:
In the event that Council does not
accept the recommendation, a report be brought back to the Committee on further
options such as a referendum.
Background Documents
None
Appendices
None