Parish poll lined up over West Dorset District Council move to Charles Street, Dorchester (From Thisisdorset)
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Parish poll lined up over West Dorset District Council move to Charles Street, Dorchester
12:00pm Monday 22nd March 2010 in
A POLL is being lined up for every voter in Dorchester to have their say on the district council’s £10.7million move to the proposed Charles Street development.
Petitioners have lodged an application with Dorchester Town Council for the parish poll – thought to be the first in the town in living memory.
The move comes after a row over a public meeting about West Dorset District Council’s plans to relocate from Stratton House to modern, purpose-built offices.
Lorna Low, who handed out leaflets about the public meeting in the town centre with fellow resident Keith Hix, welcomed the move.
She said: “I think it is a very good idea and will give people the chance to express their opinion.”
Mr Hix, of Manor Road, added: “I think it is an excellent idea.
“So far people haven’t had a voice and I think they should. I would have thought that of those who vote 95 per cent would be against the move to Charles Street.”
A vote will be held of all those eligible at Dorchester Town Council’s annual meeting on Thursday about whether to have the poll.
If the poll is agreed, a question will be drawn up with a yes or no answer.
Notification will then go to West Dorset District Council chief executive David Clarke as the election returning officer.
Technically, he could decline the call if he feels it extends beyond the parish boundaries.
The poll would then be held on a Thursday – probably in mid or late April – from 4pm to 9pm of all those eligible to vote – about 13,000 people of Dorchester’s 17,500-strong population.
Dorchester Town Council will have to pay the costs of the General Election-style referendum, about £5,000.
The result would not carry any legal weight and is not binding.
The provision for a poll features in the Local Government Act of 1972.
Town clerk Dennis Holmes said: “I can’t remember there being a town poll in Dorchester. I’ve been here 23 years and there’s never been one although they have happened occasionally elsewhere in the country.”
The call for a poll comes after West Dorset Lib Dem election candidate Sue Farrant organised a public meeting about the move at the United Church on Wednesday at 6.30pm.
District council leader Robert Gould and chief executive David Clarke have refused to attend as they claim Mrs Farrant is playing politics ahead of an election.
District council director of corporate resources and health Adrian Stuart said the authority knew about the poll.
He said: “We are aware of this issue and will respond as and when any request is made.”
The town council annual meeting is on Thursday at 7pm at the Pavilion at the Recreation Ground in Weymouth Avenue.
Comments(19)
Mads
says...
1:08pm Mon 22 Mar 10
The article doesn't make it clear why they are against the move. What have they against a modern library, a better choice of shops and more accessible council offices?
Techie
says...
1:18pm Mon 22 Mar 10
There is always a danger with these polls (probably not in this case) that because only ten electors need to request it, it makes it easy for a vexatious minority to cost an authority a great deal in time and money.
The article in the paper made reference to a poll that (I think) Bothenhampton PC were not allowed to hold regarding the EU as it was not a parish matter. The person who was behind this (from Lyme Regis) wrote to every Parish in Dorset to request that they held this poll, seeming to have little concept of how much it would cost and the legality of it.
Techie
says...
1:19pm Mon 22 Mar 10
james_spider
says...
1:40pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Why not save some money (and ensure a larger and more representative turnout) by holding the poll on the same day as the General Election on (probably) May 6th?
Techie
says...
2:08pm Mon 22 Mar 10
james_spider wrote:The poll would need to take place 14-25 days after the poll was demanded:
QUOTE: 'The poll would then be held on a Thursday – probably in mid or late April – from 4pm to 9pm of all those eligible to vote – about 13,000 people of Dorchester’s 17,500-strong population.'
Why not save some money (and ensure a larger and more representative turnout) by holding the poll on the same day as the General Election on (probably) May 6th?
"The date of the poll will be fixed by the returning officer and should be not earlier than the 14th day nor later than the 25th day after the day on which the poll was demanded. It must be held in accordance with rules made by the Secretary of State.
The rules are very clear about the way in which the poll is to be conducted. For example, ballot papers must be printed and each elector must have one; voting takes place in a polling station between 4pm and 9pm on the appointed day. The poll is advisory and the result is not binding on the council."
From http://www.parliamen
t.uk/commons/lib/res
earch/briefings/snpc
-03409.pdf
james_spider
says...
4:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Techie
says...
5:21pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Red Cockade
says...
5:33pm Mon 22 Mar 10
As Techie says " it makes it easy for a vexatious minority to cost an authority a great deal in time and money."
But in the end it won't be "the Council" that pays for this poll - it will be US. I can think of a lot more useful things for the Council spend £5000 of OUR money on.
CoogarUK.com
says...
6:22pm Mon 22 Mar 10
CoogarUK.com
says...
6:26pm Mon 22 Mar 10
CoogarUK.com
says...
6:32pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Mads
says...
7:03pm Mon 22 Mar 10
you.com/index.jsp?ar
ticleid=395727 with annual savings thereafter.
Techie
says...
7:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Continuing to occupy Stratton House is not a no-cost option here. Before condemining what they are trying to do you need to look carefully at the long-term finance picture rather than focussing solely on what it costs NOW.
CoogarUK.com
says...
8:16pm Mon 22 Mar 10
free wessex
says...
9:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
District council leader Robert Gould and chief executive David Clarke have refused to attend
However you could try for their opinion...
Email:directors@west
dorset-dc.gov.uk
Tel:01305 252202
CoogarUK.com
says...
11:25pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Techie
says...
12:57am Tue 23 Mar 10
CoogarUK.com
says...
3:39pm Tue 23 Mar 10
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Keith Hix and Lorna Low in South Street promote a public meeting and poll on the council’s relocation plans
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free wessex says...
12:25pm Mon 22 Mar 10
West Dorset District Council refuse to discuss how they infringe mine and my daughters right to family life.
http://wddcdeniesmyh
umanrights.blogspot.
com/