Eastbourne Councillors will be asked to agree making an application to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to amend the Council’s electoral cycle to a whole Council election, meaning that local elections would take place once every four years. This would replace the current arrangements where elections are held in three out of every four years (known as election by “thirds”). This could take effect from 3rd May 2007. The 2006 elections would not be affected and would take place as normal.
A Council may pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority at a special meeting to request the Secretary of State to amend its cycle of elections. This is due to take place on Wednesday 22 February.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor Ian Lucas, says, “This move is needed, in common with by far the majority of Councils nationally. Eastbourne deserves the same chance as other Councils to plan strategically, and this move will help this.”
The benefits of the proposed change include providing the Council with long term stability and enabling it to make long term plans; improve electoral turnout and give voters a clear choice. The move would also mean that valuable time would not be lost each year in the period immediately before the elections when many Council activities have to be curtailed. There would also be a cost saving from having to hold fewer elections.
If the application is approved, all currently serving Councillors as of May 2007 will end their terms, irrespective of when they were elected.
Nearly two-thirds of all district, borough and county Councils already have whole Council elections. Six other Councils are currently believed to be considering changing to whole Council elections. They are Bristol, Broadland, Congleton, Havant, South Cambridgeshire and Swale.
The May 2006 elections will still go ahead. This is because the Secretary of State does not have the power to extend the term of office of a councillor beyond 4 years and the Councillors due for retirement next May will all have served for 4 years having been first elected in May 2002.
