Petition calls for four-yearly elections and fewer councillors

YOU might not have to go to the polling station as often anymore - or have as many councillors to choose from.

That is if a petition submitted to Coventry City Council calling for a switch to four yearly elections and a reduction in the number of councillors is listened to.

At the moment, residents in the city head to the polling stations to vote in a third of their local councillors every three years, with no elections in the fourth year.

But switching to voting for the whole council once every four years could save the council £1.3million over 10 years, a report has found.

There is already legislation in place which enables councils to consider moving to whole-council elections.

The petition also calls on the council to cut the number of councillors.

It wants to see the number reduced from the the current 54 - who serve 18 wards - to 36.

The petition states: “We want the council to reduce the number of councillors in each ward from three to two and hold elections once every four years instead of the current cycle.

“This will save money and make the council more efficient.”

A council report has estimated savings of £1,310,000 could be made in elections between 2020 and 2030 should the authority move to whole-council elections. Local authorities including Coventry’s council have no powers to change the number of councillors serving.

That is currently down to the Boundary Commission.

A report, which is due to be presented to the cabinet member for policing and equalities on Thursday, January 10, added: “It is anticipated that the introduction of whole council elections would deliver cost savings over time, although some caution needs to be applied to any estimates as the pattern of other elections to the Police and Crime Commissioner, West Midlands Combined Authority and general elections have a significant impact on cost, and the costs of elements of elections may change over time.”

It added: “The introduction of whole-council elections would be a significant change for electors and would require clear information advising them of their ability to select more than one candidate.

“It would also have an impact on the count process, where the selection of three candidates from the ballot paper would mean the count process would take longer.

“Local authorities have no powers to alter the number of councillors.

“The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for carrying out electoral reviews.

“While a local authority is able to request a review, the decision on councillor numbers is made by the Boundary Commission which may not recommend any change.”

This will save money and make the council more efficient

Report