Man criticises council's election process (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Man criticises council's election process in Little Bentley

9:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in News

A MAN has hit out at his parish council after failing in his bid to fill a vacant seat on it.

Jim Clifton heard about a vacancy on Little Bentley Parish Council and wanted the opportunity to represent his village.

He collected the support of 18 fellow villagers to force an election under casual council vacancy rules.

But when he went to hand the signatures in, he was told he had missed the deadline by two days.

He has now criticised the parish council for not advertising the vacancy properly.

Mr Clifton said: “I heard that one of the councillors had resigned.

“I read an article saying you can make yourself eligible for election into a vacant council seat by getting ten people to support you.

“I got that and then some, but I was told I was too late.

“To my knowledge they only put the vacancy advertisement on the internet and in a disused phone box in the village, and it didn’t have the deadline on it.

“I was very aggrieved. I don’t think it is fair that they didn’t advertise a deadline and I don’t think it is fair that they don’t want me on the council just because I have different opinions about what is best for our village."

But parish council chairman Brian Evans said: “We have followed the correct procedure throughout and followed the rules to the letter.”