Election of the Council
The next scheduled Parish Election will by May 2013. All Gurnard’s Parish Councillors will be obliged to stand down then, though they do remain in office for 4 days after the election. The criteria that must be met by candidates is:
- 18 years of age or over
- British subject or Commonwealth citizen, or citizen of the Irish Republic or a subject of a Member State of the European Community
- Registered Local elector of the Parish of Gurnard or during the 12 month period prior to nomination has:
> Occupied land or premises as owner or tenant in the Parish or
> Resided in the Parish or within 4.8 Km thereof or
> Had his/her principal or only place of work in that area.
In past years Gurnard has satisfactorily filled all seats at elections, and usually this has been the case due to exactly the right number of candidates coming forward. At the 2001 election, however, there were originally 10 candidates, which would have forced a contested election but one withdrew at the last moment. The 2005 election was extensively advertised in the Village but only 7 out of the 9 required nominations were forthcoming, which was disappointing. Since then the Parish Council successfully co-opted one additional Member in September 2005 and a 2nd in February 2006. Resignations were received from 3 Councillors in the Summer of 2006, and all were filled through uncontested by-elections by December 2006 . The Council was up to full strength with a 100% electoral mandate until May 2007, when one resignation was received, and this seat was filled through another uncontested by-election in August 2007. In 2008 there were 2 vacancies, again through resignations, and these were both filled through by-elections in May and August 2008 and the Council continued to maintain a 100% electoral mandate until the local council elections of 4th June 2009. The Parish Council advertised extensively for candidates but it only received 7 nominations for the 9 seats, and these were all original Councillors - no new blood!. The Parish Council was forced to attempt to co-opt to fill these 2 vacancies, which it did in mid June 2009 and they were filled by July 2009. In August 2009 one more resignation was received, but no demand for an election was made and so the seat was filled by cooption in November 2009. In June 2010 one resignation was received - again no demand was made to fill this through a bye-election and so it was filled by cooption in October 2010.
One resignation was received on 1st February 2011, which was eventually filled in May 2011. Another resignation was received on 9th June 2011, and the criteria to fill the vacancy through a bye-election was met. Accordingly the election was set for 11th August 2011 and just one nomination was received, who was duly elected uncontestedly.
If you wish to know more about what it means to be a Councillor should future vacancies arise, do contact the Parish Clerk or speak to one of the existing Councillors.
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