By Election Expected in Lincoln City's Bracebridge Ward

A By-Election is expected to be called to fill a vacancy in the Bracebridge Ward of Lincoln City Council following the removal of Cllr. Darren Grice, Independent (Bracebridge Ward), after a six month absence from meetings of the Council.

Mr. Andrew Taylor, Chief Executive of the City Council, explained:

"Where a member does not attend any meeting of the council for a period of six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, then they cease to be a member of the council, unless they have received prior approval of absence.

"No such request has been received from councillor Grice. Councillor Grice’s last attendance at a meeting was Council on 8th January 2013. Accordingly, as there are no meetings scheduled which he could now attend, his term of office will cease on 8 July 2013.

"The Council must then declare the vacancy. Where the council declares the office to be vacant, the election to fill the vacancy must be held within 35 days of this date."

A timetable for the by-election is expected to be published shortly after Monday, 8th July 2013 and will mean a by-election will probably be held on Thursday, 8th August 2013.

In the last election, in the Lincoln Bracebridge Division of Lincolnshire County Council, which covers, broadly speaking, the same geographical area as the Bracebridge Ward of Lincoln City Council the result was:

Conservatives 36.11%, Labour 34.00%, Liberal Democrat 3.72%, UKIP 23.57% and Lincolnshire Independent 2.61%.

The Conservatives will hope their candidate is successful, and have impressive form in the area with six out of seven wins since 2007. Labour will hope to show they are making advances, although this is not a strong area for them - they took a city council seat in 2012 with a majority of seven votes. UKIP will be looking to improve their poll rating from May's local election and will seek to improve their position to second place, from third. The Liberal Democrats, who have never had particular strength in Lincoln, will want to improve their poll rating and see it back above 5%.

Above: Election results (% vote) of contests in the Bracebridge Ward and Lincoln Bracebridge Division 2007-2013

Traditionally this seat has not been contested by the Lincolnshire Independents, if they field a candidate they will probably have limited impact. The BNP have infrequently fielded candidates in this seat and they could again for a by-election, depending on the strength of their party locally following the party's route from the electoral battlefield in Britain.

Lincoln City Council Expects Smaller Cabinet

Newly-re-elected Labour Leader Cllr. Ric Metcalfe, who retook his seat last Thursday, as Labour wrested City Hall from Conservative controll, has said he was cutting two top jobs from the cabinet.

Cllr. Metcalfe said the aim of reducing the number of people on the cabinet from eight members to six will help the authority make financial savings and improve decision-making.

Cllr. Metcalfe's position as Leader of the Council and the other executive positions are expected to be ratified at the council's annual general meeting on Tuesday, 24th May 2011. He said:

"We plan to reduce the size of the executive committee to improve the effectiveness of decision-making and make financial savings."

Cllr. Metcalfe, who has worked in local government, served as a member of the council since 1982 and was previously Leader of the Council before Labour lost its twenty-six-years of rule to the Conservatives in 2007 continued:

"We will merge the 'customer services' portfolio into 'corporate management', making sure it remains a high priority, and we'll sit 'environment' alongside 'public protection' as we feel the two go hand in hand.

"These are challenging times, but we are determined not to allow this to prevent us from trying to do the very best for the people of Lincoln. We have a very experienced and energetic team providing the leadership the city needs."

The balance of power shifted after Labour secured seventeen seats, compared to the Conservatives fifteen. Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath remains the sole Liberal Democrat on the Council.

Speaking at the election count in Lincoln to the Lincolnshire Echo, Cllr. Darren Grice, the Conservative Leader, said he was disappointed to lose control of the council.

"First and foremost, I am honoured that the people of Bracebridge have re-elected me for another four years. I am disappointed that we have lost control of the council by one seat.

"It will be interesting to watch, over the next year, Labour trying to build a council with a one-seat majority, as we had to do in our first year.

"The one question I will be asking Ric Metcalfe at every meeting is show us the money. Ric agrees that there has to be cuts. He does not know where yet."

Mr Metcalfe told the Lincolnshire Echo, following his win, that Labour's plans for the authority are to focus on affordable housing and the city's transport links as top priorities.

The new administration also said its main priority was to increase scrutiny at the council, by establishing a new high-profile Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee.

Chaired by Cllr. Ms Karen Lee, Labour (Carholme Ward) the committee will scrutinise plans, actions or decisions made by the council's partner organisations responsible for services in the city.

Cllr. Metcalfe said: "

There are many things that the council does not have responsibility for, but which can have a very significant effect on the lives of the people we represent. We want to be in a position to scrutinise these decisions and speak up for the people of Lincoln."

Lincoln's Liberal Democrat Confirms Conservative Rule of City Council

Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath

Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath, Liberal Democrat (Carholme Ward) has decided to support the incumbent administration on Lincoln City Council, which means the authority remaining under Conservative Control, mirroring events nationally and the the formation of the Coalition Government. The Lincolnshire Echo reports her decision was based on a 'dissatisfaction' with Labour's previous reign of power.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath's announcement came at a meeting yesterday and prompted an outraged reply from Labour's Group Leader Cllr. Ric Metcalfe, Labour (Glebe Ward). He talked of Cllr. Mrs Heath now being the 'seventeenth member' of the Conservative Group, although Cllr. Mrs. Heath sits as a Liberal Democrat.

Cllr. Ric Metcalfe

The leader of the opposition at the City of Lincoln Council attacked the lone Liberal Democrat for showing 'breathtaking arrogance' after she backed the Conservatives at City Hall. Cllr.Metcalfe said:

"I have to say it's done nothing to enhance her claim of independence and to hear her trotting out nonsense on independence is laughable.

"She didn't come to the council until 2007, but claims we made mistakes which has led her to back the Tories. It speaks of breathtaking arrogance from her. Labour ran the council extremely competently for years and you can see the incompetence in the Conservatives.

"She is saying she will keep the Conservative administration at arm's length, however she seems to warmly embrace it."

The decision on the ruling administration had been left uncertain for nearly three weeks after the council had no overall control following the elections on Thursday, 6th May 2010. The public vote saw Conservative and Labour holding 16 seats apeice, after Labour gained two from the Conservatives.

Cllr. Metcalfe's anger may be a result that he did, in fact, win the election. The Labour Party gained two seats from the Conservatives and polled more votes. The Conservative recieved 14,277 which was almost a thousand votes less than Labour who recieved 15,220. The Liberal Democrats came third with 9,482.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath is reported to have said:

"My decision has been reached after consideration of local needs and has not been dictated by colleagues at Westminster.

"I am not satisfied that the previous Labour administration's management of the city's budget was robust enough during their time in office, nor am I satisfied they would be prepared to make the tough and even unpopular decisions that the current financial climate requires.

"I remain unconvinced the Labour group is sufficiently flexible or pragmatic enough to work effectively with either the new MP, or a Tory dominated county council."

The Lincolnshire Echo summerise her as saying that the Conservatives were 'more flexible' and that there is a better chance of getting her party's 'key priorities' delivered by supporting a Conservative-led authority.

Central Lincolnshire Planning Committee Set Sights on Local Development Framework

Local people can now see how Central Lincolnshire is set to shape up as the area's inter-authority planning committee kicks-off its first major project.

The Central Lincolnshire Planning Committee has approved its Local Development Scheme - its first major project since forming in November 2009.

Vice Chairman of the Central Lincolnshire Planning Committee and Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, Cllr. Darren Grice, Conservative (Bracebrdge Ward) said:

"The approval of this first key document is a real milestone for the Committee and shows how partners are committed to delivering co-ordinated developments and decisions across the whole area."

The Local Development Scheme outlines a three-year timetable for the production of the Local Development Framework that will be prepared for Central Lincolnshire. It sets out the current Development Plan and the schedule of proposed local development documents.

In addition, the Local Development Scheme highlights other schemes that will start after the first three years. It is hoped this forward-thinking approach will make sure all partners are fully prepared to carry out future projects.

Cllr. Grice stated that:

"The LDS brings together the aspirations of all partners, and with a number of major schemes set to develop in the near future, it ensures areas within and beyond authorities' boundaries are developed consistently and efficiently."

People can see the full LDS by visiting North Kesteven District, West Lindsey District, City of Lincoln or Lincolnshire County Councils' websites.

Bernard Theobald Stands Down From Inter-Council Planning Body

Former Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Bernard Theobald, Independent (Wold View Ward) has resigned as Chairman of an influential inter-authority planning committee before councillors could vote on whether to keep him.

The Lincolnshire Echo is reporting that Cllr. Theobald announced yesterday he would be stepping down as Chairman of the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee - which brings together four councils with the aim of getting better planning decisions outcomes within the region - following calls for his resignation. Cllr. Theobald was expected to lose the position after a motion was tabled that he should resign by the Leader of City of Lincoln Council, Cllr. Darren Grice, Conservative (Bracebridge Ward) and Leader of North Kesteven District Council. Cllr. Mrs. Marion Brighton OBE, Conservative (Heighington and Washingborough Ward).

Cllr. Theobald announced his decision to leave the post voluntarily as the committee met in Sleaford. He was asked to resign as Leader of the Council by his deputy Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), and has been suspended by the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association for six months as a neutral act. Cllr. Theobald blames the Lincolnshire Echo investigation in to matters related to planning at the council for being forced to resign and is understood to be seeking redress.

Cllr. Grice, who chaired the committee meeting in Cllr Theobald's place, told members:

"We are innocent until proven guilty. I will be having a discussion with Councillor Theobald after the meeting and the invitation will always be there once Cllr Theobald has ridden through the difficulties facing him.

"This is not a judgement on Cllr Theobald. It's about driving forward the very important work of this committee as it is bigger than one individual."

Cllr. Grice said this included all committee members and not just Cllr Theobald.

"I fully support him in his campaign against the Echo."

Lincoln's Conservative-led Council On Course With £1.3m Spending Cuts

Cllr. Darren Drice, Conservative leader of the City of Lincoln Council has announced that the authority has met about fifty percent of its savings targets. In September 2008 the council began a review of services and to date has made £1,300,000 of savings.

The ruling Conservative administration is planning to shave two and a half million off the authority's budget by 2012. Lincoln residents can now expect to see further changes as the authority enters the second phase of improving the authority's financial situation.

Cllr. Darren Grice said:

"The executive would not have wanted to make many of these decisions had financial circumstances been different.

"However, during this challenging period we have a responsibility to Lincoln residents to make sure we make the correct decisions for the future of the council and the city.

"Thankfully we were well prepared for this situation and haven't had to suffer the mass redundancies that other authorities have faced."

It is understood that the second phase of chnges is to include a range of 'back office' services at the council that are less visible to the public.

Giles McNeill supports Campaign to Save General Election Night

Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome is spearheading a campaign that is calling on local government to save general election night.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday, an increasing number of 'killjoy' councils are planning to postpone their local counts until the Friday after polling, thereby killing any sense of excitement that traditionally surrounds the most important night in the political calendar.

Jonathan has provided first-rate reasons for opposing this move in the Facebook group he has set up (and I would urge you to join).

My reasons believing that election counts should happen immediately after the polls close are:

• No candidate wants to be forced to wait extra (and for the individuals concerned an excruciating) number of hours before finding out their fate. Imagine if Paula Radcliffe having run the London Marathon and set a new world record had been told "We will post your result out to you tomorrow, second class"!

• We want to know who won as soon as possible, once the polling stations have closed. On a constituency level, but more significantly on a national level: if the general election is going to be close, then it is possible that if lots of seats are not counting until Friday (especially marginals) then we will not know who is going to be Prime Minister, form the Government and so forth until Friday lunchtime or afternoon.

• Whilst we may not know how many people have been engaged with politics by the drama and tension of Thursday night election coverage on television I suspect finding out the results the following afternoon when at work (or a couple of days later in the case of the recent European elections) really would kill any fizz.

• In the digital '24-hour media age' when we are used to getting news quicker than ever before, it would be a backward step to delay election counts. If anything, we should be seeking to persuade the few constituencies which historically count on a Friday to bring their counts forward to Thursday night.

• Sitting around the television into the early hours is an election night ritual for people across the land, many of whom do not perhaps follow politics closely on a daily basis. But if there are fewer results to announce - and the potential of not getting a national result to boot - they are less likely to bother tuning in and when the remaining constituencies declare and the national result becomes apparent on the Friday, anyone at work is not going to be able to witness the climax of the electoral process.

• The outside broadcasts at counts up and down the country have provided many a memorable moment over the years, bringing the results to life. However, the reason why broadcasters are able to provide such a variety is that there is no other call on the satellite trucks and outside broadcast units during the night. If there were an increasing number of counts on Friday during the day, fewer of them would have cameras present, thereby reducing the ability of the broadcasters to give full coverage of the results.

• The traditional British way of doing elections is to have people come out to vote and then count the ballot papers immediately afterwards. It's how we do it and what we're used to - I personall spoke to a number of electors during the most recent local and european elections who could not understand why we would have results for local elections on Thursday night for the County Council and Sunday for the European election (granted their is a good reason, but most electors want our traditions upheld).

• Security is a less important concern, but worth a mention all the same. There is somethng very worring about increasingly, millions of ballot papers being left overnight before being counted.

General elections only happen every four or five years. Is it really too much to ask of local authority staff that counts actually take place in the same way they have been carried out for generations?

UPDATE

I have spoke to Leader of City of Lincoln Council, Cllr. Darren Grice who has confirmed to me that it is the council's intention to hold evening counts as has been custom and practice in recent elections.