The Council Question (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter cc84cov
- Start date
mark82
Super Moderator
Local elections are normally in May. Were suspended this year due to COVID.
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fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry but the notion that this problem can be voted away is false. It isn't all about what the councillors think, you've got a group of senior officers in the council heavily invested in Wasps (professionally), I just cannot see any wholesale change of attitude. The Tories might make certain noises for political expediency, but they've been right behind every council decision so far in relation to the Ricoh.
mark82
Super Moderator
If you think you'll end up with a council full of independents or minority parties though you'll be disappointed. Best option would be membership of local Labour or Conservative party, and force selection of new candidates. Would still need numbers though, and unrealistic in a short timeframe.
Maybe best hope is to focus on a single independent in one ward and campaign just in that area. Still think it'd be an uphill battle though.
Maybe best hope is to focus on a single independent in one ward and campaign just in that area. Still think it'd be an uphill battle though.
Nick
Administrator
Exactly, not as if you can vote Martin Reeves out is it?
ovduk78
Well-Known Member
What have you done to it?
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
They elect one-third of the 54 councillors each year (so there can be no complete removal of the whole council). In fact, there are elections three years out of four, and there were due to be no elections in 2021, but i guess those seats that were due to be contested in 2020 will be voted on next May instead.
lord_garrincha
Well-Known Member
Exactly... let's concentrate our efforts on the new stadium, once the first spade is in the ground... We have laid out our intentions, now deliver.
cc84cov
Well-Known Member
IF the new stadium is actually gonna happen
lord_garrincha
Well-Known Member
Hence the first spade comment... They need to deliver or they are no better than the rest.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
An example is the Kenilworth Lido. The leader of Warwick DC was ousted from the Park Hill ward in Kenilworth by the Greens, following a fairly long campaign to try to save the Lido. Result, you might think - but the Greens were still in the minority, and the Lido closure will go ahead regardless.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
1/3 of all councillors are up for election each year, with a break every 4 years. Elections postponed this year so double the amount up next year (2/3 of 54 so 36 total).
Before anything you’d need to canvass those 36 people and work out who you want to target. Cash or manpower wins elections and we don’t have loads of either. So you either need to raise some, or focus your resources on a couple of target seats max. Makes sense to piggyback on an opponent rather than try and build your own brand IMO.
And as others have said after all that you’ve got the political system to deal with anyway.
Before anything you’d need to canvass those 36 people and work out who you want to target. Cash or manpower wins elections and we don’t have loads of either. So you either need to raise some, or focus your resources on a couple of target seats max. Makes sense to piggyback on an opponent rather than try and build your own brand IMO.
And as others have said after all that you’ve got the political system to deal with anyway.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
There were no elections scheduled for 2021 - it was the "fallow" year, so still only 18, who would have served 5 years rather than 4 without re-election.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Ah didn’t realise that.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Local councillors usually serve for three years, but Coventry CC is four years (normally). I suspect that is to avoid too much upheaval, although in reality most of them get re-elected on the nod. It's probably better to wait for one of them to kick the bucket, then have someone waiting in the wings to stand in a by-election. Trouble is, you have to show a connection to the Ward (either by living there or having a business interest) - that's certainly the case with parish councils, but may be different for a city with 18 wards - a link to the city may be sufficient.
EDIT: incidentally, you probably wouldn't need THAT many votes to win a council by-election ... (just sayin')
EDIT: incidentally, you probably wouldn't need THAT many votes to win a council by-election ... (just sayin')
mark82
Super Moderator
If anyone is in the local Labour party within Wyken then it might be a good time to either put yourself forward or find a favourable candidate. Unlikely that Labour will lose the seat, so that would be best way. Let's not pretend it would be anything but a dissenting voice though.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
The Labour candidate in the 2019 election in Wyken got 1425 votes on a turnout of 27%. Surely we could have someone standing as an independent to get more than that? If she is the one that died (Hazel Sweet), the Tory in second only got 765.
lord_garrincha
Well-Known Member
There is zero chance of the Labour group accepting a candidate who has come from the clouds brandishing a 'Down With This Thing' placard.
The power at Local Authorities lies with the officers... They make the decisions, then they become recommendations to cabinet, and they revert back to decisions... The expression "That's why you earn the money!" comes to mind.
Whilst voting them out would always have it's pleasurable side... Don't expect the yellow brick road ending at the Ricoh.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Party politics in local government should be outlawed - make people vote with their conscience.
mark82
Super Moderator
As I say, would have to be someone already in the party. Candidates have to be registered as a member for a minimum of 2 years. There will be plenty of members within the local party who disagree with the council stance. As I say, not likely to make a difference anyway (and neither would an independent).
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Even if they did and got elected once they started showing their true colours they'd be taken to one side and given a word in their shell like to pack it in or they'd see to it that they were ostracised and kept on the fringes as much as possible (certainly on that particular issue), whilst subtly undermining them so they could be deselected at the first opportunity as they were perceived as a poor councillor.
Chances are they wouldn't even get that far - they'd have people muck-raking before selection to ensure they were going to toe the line and any indication that'd be the case your chances are gone - plenty of people who would blindly do so - so you basically have to pretend to lick a lot of arse while having the ability to hide your duplicity as well as a spy. If you'd got those skills there'd be far more lucrative ways of using them than getting on a local council.
This is true of all the parties.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Getting selected means getting the local party organised enough to win the selection meeting which usually means who has been around the longest or who has support from a faction.
Getting decent candidates in is a joke, let alone ones with a specific view on a specific issue.
Ive said it before but the best thing would be to build a case with actual evidence of misdemeanours and take it to the Local Authority Ombudsman after going through the official complaints procedure (you have to do that first).
Getting decent candidates in is a joke, let alone ones with a specific view on a specific issue.
Ive said it before but the best thing would be to build a case with actual evidence of misdemeanours and take it to the Local Authority Ombudsman after going through the official complaints procedure (you have to do that first).
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Mostly agreed.
But, if we were to stand a candidate, maybe campaign a little too on the sole platform of CCFC. It may change the landscape of the CCC even if one person were to be elected. Or even if sufficiently challenged enough to worry about the outcome of next election.
So far, councillors have the luxury that CCFC being exiled doesn’t affect their chance of reelection. If it was a risk, there’s a possibility they would soften their tone.
At least trying wouldn’t do any harm.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
agreed. As a city, surely the only thing we shouldn't be doing is rolling over and not challenging it. Imagine someone like Pat Raybould standing as an independent.
Hell, i'd vote for the coventrian if he stood !
Desperate times
Grendel
Well-Known Member
In practical terms it would achieve little other than be a good media story and get someone in the local media raising the issue
youd really also only get one shot at it. It would have to be a high profile candidate and targeting a known name who could realistically be defeated
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
But I don't think the new kit he'd put forward of all white with a hooded collar would go down well.
Or having border checks on roads/rail stations with a dulux colour chart as to whether you'd be allowed into the city would look good in the national media.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
better days
Well-Known Member
The Charlton fans were in a similar position with a vindictive local council when they were trying to return to their home after years away
They stood Valley Party candidates against the worst of the councilors
Although they didn't get elected themselves they took enough votes to let the opposition win in a number of seats
It's the sort of thing local media love and would probably create national interest as it did with Charlton, who of course eventually won the argument
better days
Well-Known Member
Not sure she would be an asset Nick
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Agree on a national basis.
When it comes to elections with lower turnouts, in the high-teens to high-twenties in percentage... An independent with votes could sway the election outcome.
Ultimately, the goal would be to make sitting councillors worry that a potential independent running could cause them to lose their seat. Perhaps this changes some of their attitudes, perhaps not. Either way, it’s worth trying.