tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post8971249975452836618..comments2024-03-20T16:27:56.522+00:00Comments on Norfolk Blogger: Where Scotland leads England should follow - Local elections should be importantNich Starlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-7035374203742399192008-01-11T13:16:00.000+00:002008-01-11T13:16:00.000+00:00Interesting idea, making (fixed term) council elec...Interesting idea, making (fixed term) council election dates at a time locally decided. <BR/><BR/>It would need a bit more than just an adjustment of poll dates though. Currently new councillors are voted in just before the Council Annual Meeting with all the budgeting and financial oversight and committee allocation implications of that. If we varied the dates would we have to allow variations in the council Offical Year as well?<BR/><BR/>On a small matter if we do have the same local election date I wish it was on the second Thursday of May not the first. That would clear campaigning time away from the clutter of April and May Bank Holidays.<BR/><BR/>Personally I am against rigidly fixed term parliaments. I think there should be a limited number (say 5) days a year when a Parliamentary poll may be held, none of them to co-incide with local elections. Parliaments normally to last a full term unless certain very specific events happen (ie not on the whim of the Prime Minister).Edishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852931736127760026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-33624009677658491772008-01-11T00:14:00.000+00:002008-01-11T00:14:00.000+00:00I like the idea. But one reason why not is the cos...I like the idea. But one reason why not is the cost of it. At a general election, they already have to pay everything, so why do so twice when it is completely unnecessary?ThunderDragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022244110521962876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-22342836623533287792008-01-10T22:32:00.000+00:002008-01-10T22:32:00.000+00:00I'd actually go further than that and question whe...I'd actually go further than that and question whether we need to have all local elections on the same day. The German Lander decide for themselves when their elections are and I see no reason why local government in this country should not do the same. Even if there isn't a general election at the same time, having all local elections on the same day encourages people to make their decisions on national issues rather than local ones. While it might be more convenient for political parties to have just one election day, and I also suspect that not many local authorities would bother to change from May, there's no reason why councils shouldn't be allowed to do so if they wish.Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.com