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Changes to city council make-up
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| Wednesday 7th July 2010 |
Norwich and Exeter City Councils were awarded unitary status by the outgoing government and Norfolk and Devon County Councils sought a judicial review to challenge the legality of that decision by the then secretary of state.
Two weeks ago the High Court ruled the process which led to the decision to confer unitary status on Norwich and Exeter was unlawful, but deferred quashing the implementation orders due to the implications for local elections.
As part of the order passed by parliament, the terms of office for 13 of the city council’s 39 councillors were extended to May 2011 to allow for an all-out election of councillors for the proposed new council at that time.
Today the High Court formally quashed the orders and this means that with immediate effect 13 councillors no longer have a seat on the council.
However, no arrangements for elections for these 13 seats have been made and the council has been advised to seek specialist electoral advice from the High Court in order for a date to be set. We will be seeking to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
The councillors affected are: Brian Morrey; Sue Sands; James (Bert) Bremner; Linda Blakeway; Jenny Lay; Mary Cannell; Claire Stephenson; Howard Jago; Janet Bearman; Tom Llewellyn; Brian Watkins; Joyce Divers, and Antony Little. All allowances for these councillors will cease from Tuesday 6 July.
Laura McGillivray, chief executive, said that in the light of today’s decision, the council was considering the implications for the executive and the make-up and balance of the other committees on which the 13 councillors concerned served. The leader and remaining executive members would continue to be responsible for the running of the council.
"I would want to reassure people that we will be making every effort to ensure the council runs smoothly in these unusual circumstances," she said. |
| Posted by Kim for Norwich City Council |
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