High Court ruling leaves council short
13 city councillors find themselves without seats tonight, in the latest twist in the unitary tale. Advice is needed from the High Court to see what happens next.
Today the High Court formally quashed the orders put in place for Norwich to become a unitary authority. This means that with immediate effect 13 councillors – one third of the council – no longer have a seat on the council.
As part of the order passed by parliament, the terms of office for 13 of the city council’s 39 councillors had been extended to May 2011 to allow for an all-out election of councillors for the proposed new unitary council at that time. Their seats had been due for re-election this June.
The council has been advised to seek specialist electoral advice from the High Court in order for a date to be set.
The councillors affected representing south Norwich are: James (Bert) Bremner (Lab, University); Mary Cannell (Lab, Lakenham); Claire Stephenson(Green, Nelson); Janet Bearman (Green, Town Close); Brian Watkins (Lib Dem, Eaton). All allowances for these councillors will cease from tomorrow.
Samir Jeraj, acting Leader of the Norwich Green Party City Councillors, issued a statement: “The ruling to remove one third of Norwich City Councillors without setting a date for the election of new ones is the worst possible outcome for the people of Norwich and for democracy. This situation is testament to the completely inept way in which the plan for a unitary authority has been approached. It is outrageous that so many voters will have to suffer the effects of a weakened Council as a result of legal ruling to remove a third of the Council; contrary to common sense.”
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.
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