Have your say on Local Democracy
In December, Havant Borough Council will be thinking about
making an important
change to the way you vote for
your borough councillors.
What happens now?
Havant Borough Council has 38 councillors representing 14 wards
across the borough.
One third of these councillors are elected per year for three
consecutive years and in the fourth year the county council
elections take place. This is known as ‘elections by thirds’.
What could happen in the future?
Voting could change from ‘elections by thirds’ to voting for all
councillors at the same time, once every four years. This is known
as ‘whole council elections’. There would still be 38 local
councillors representing 14 wards.
What do you think?
Do you think that the way you vote for your local councillor
should stay the same or change to ‘whole council elections’?
Here are a few points that may help you, before you answer the
questionnaire opposite:
Reasons to keep ‘elections by thirds’
You can vote in three years out of every four, giving you more
frequent opportunities to influence the political make-up of the
borough council
There is less likely to be a dramatic change in the political
make-up of the council than if all councillors were elected at the
same time
Controversial decisions may be less likely to be postponed until
after an election with no opportunity for protest at the ballot box
for another four years
Elections by thirds is the way you currently vote in the
borough.
Reasons to change to ‘whole council elections’
By holding elections once every four years the make-up of the
council would be more stable over the four year period and this may
make it easier for the council to create long term plans and
streamline policies
Everyone would have the opportunity to vote at the same time and
with equal frequency
A greater possibility of a big political change once every four
years together with a simpler electoral cycle may mean that more
people are likely to vote
Financial savings for the council.
We need to know what you think.
To complete
the questionnaire please us this link>>
What happens next?
Once we have received your views on how you would like to vote,
the results will be taken to a meeting of the full council in
December 2009 for an overall decision to be made.
Look out for the results of this consultation and the decision
in a future edition of Serving You and on our website.