Paperwork error could mean by-election re-run

A parish council may have to spend up to £15,000 on re-running a by-election after an administrative issue led to the winning candidate not officially being made a councillor.

Sandbach Town Council's August by-election for the Elworth ward was won by Labour’s Colin Storey, but an error led to the paperwork afterwards not being completed in time.

A notice of a vacancy has been published and, if the required number of requests for it to be held are received from members of the public, a second by-election would take place.

If the council do not get the required number, then Mr Storey would keep his place as councillor.

Cheshire East Council said it had been informed that the declaration was not delivered to the town council “in accordance” with the deadline set in law.

The Sandbach Labour Group said the voters had “made their feelings plain” in the election. Turn out had been 15%.

“The money we spend at Sandbach Town Council is hard earned by local voters, and it is hard to imagine that they want £15,000 of it to be spent on re-running that election, when it could be spent on improving our parks and other community activities," it said.

Costs in running an election include advertising the vacancy, printing polling cards and postal votes, postal costs, staffing polling stations and running a count.

The National Association of Local Councils said by-elections can place a “significant financial burden” on town and parish councils.

“The council's limited budget often covers these costs, impacting its ability to fund other essential services or projects,” a spokesperson said.

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