Republic of Nadinia

 

Have you voted in Cranfield yet? I haven't either. Short of a by-election - our MP leaves to set up the Republic of Nadinia maybe - we are ballot-free for at least 12 months.

The elections which the news meeja are rabbitting on about are English counties. If Bedfordshire still had a county we would be having one but the entire former Beds is now three unitaries and elections take place every four years. The European elections are due next year. 

In 2015 Central Beds, Bedford Borough and Luton will be up for grabs and parish and town council elections will also be held. Throw in a general election at the same time and it could be a busy year politically. But all quiet for now.

Nadinia - elections are held via twitter and single transferable blog

Versallion and politics

Central Beds is settling down after the election fuss with just one loose end. The children's service portfolio holder Mark Versallion is still on London Borough of Harrow. I've been asking our unitary councillors about this anomaly and will continue to press until Cllr Versallion has finally decided where he is a councillor. Portfolio holder (sorry, "executive lead") is a huge job. See this from the London Evening Standard.


Not surprised they're asking questions in the Big Smoke. 

Councillor agrees to quit over second seat in shires

Peter Dominiczak and Joshua Neicho
26 May 2011 

A Conservative councillor in Harrow announced today that he would quit after it emerged he also sits on a council in another part of the country.

Mark Versallion lives in Bedfordshire but has represented Stanmore Park in Harrow for more than a year.

But after he was elected to Bedfordshire county council this month some residents in Harrow accused him of having "no commitment" to the area.

Sources claimed that Mr Versallion, 39, a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, would receive more than £20,000 a year for his work on the two councils. Chairwoman of the
Conservative Association in Harrow, Marilyn Ashton, said that calling a by-election would be "the honourable thing to do". She added: "I understand he has made clear to people in Bedfordshire that he intends to stand down in Harrow, but we haven't got as far as a formal agreement."

The Labour leader of Harrow council, Bill Stephenson, described the situation as "a complete farce", adding: "He used to have a business in Harrow but now he lives a considerable distance away. If you are a Harrow councillor you should be able to devote yourself to it full-time."

After being contacted by the Standard Mr Versallion today conceded that it was "appropriate" that he now quits Harrow council. He said: "I still feel able to deal with my ward case work in Harrow, and indeed have been doing so since my election to Central Bedfordshire on May 5 but, as I have said even since before my election, I think it is appropriate that I stand down from Harrow council.

"This is being discussed with the
Harrow party association."

Central Beds elections

Council poll results for Cranfield and Marston (including Lidlington, Salford, Brogborough and Millbrook) as follows: Baker, James (Ind) 890; Baker, Roger(Ind) 794; Bastable (Con) 1639; Clapham(Ind) 725; Clark(Con) 1679; Gale (Lab) 732; Matthews(Con) 1596; Morris(Lab) 725; Pollock(Lab) 695

See

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/ELECTIONS-All-the-results-and-news-as-the-count-begins-05052011.htm

for up to date results.

Election notice

CBC have finally put up a notice of the forthcoming election on the notice board of our currently closed village hall. Nothing on the (more visible) board beside Marshalls. I haven't checked Crane Way or Wharley End but I ain't holding my breath

Local elections

Local elections for Central Beds will take place on 5 May. Cranfield is now part of an enlarged ward comprising the village and Marston, Lidlington, Ridgmont, Millbrook, Brogborough and Salford. There are nine candidates, Labour: Laurence Pollock, Alan Morris, Miriam Gale; Conservative: Alan Bastable, Ken Matthews, Sue Clark; independents: Roger Baker, James Baker and Iain Clapham. 

New parish council

We have had 14 members up to now and three are standing down. There has been one new nomination and all 11 have been elected unopposed. That includes myself and Alan Morris in Wharley End. We will be on the lookout for potential co-optees in the next couple of months  to help us with the work of moderating our local quality of life. It could be you.

Standing for election

All parish and town councils have elections this May 2011. The Central Beds elections will be dominated by party candidates with most of those elected being conservatives. It is hard to stand as an independent  at this level because of the challenges of finance and organisation. The new wards are huge (we are in Cranfield, Marston, Lidlington, Ridgmont, Salford, Brogborough and Millbrook ward - yes it is all one) So even if you have a local village profile other people may not have heard of you. 




Parish councils are different and often do not get enough people being nominated to trigger an election. All you need are two nominees and a minimum of paperwork. But you should research exactly what is involved as some people find local government minutiae tedious to say the least. And deaaaad slow.