Battle begins for control of borough
Twenty district seats to be contested in the local election on May 5
THE GLOVES are off in the battle for control of the borough council, ahead of the May 5 local elections.
Twenty of the total 60 seats on the Conservative-led Basingstoke and Deane Borough council are up for grabs.
Among these are six north Hampshire seats, including Baughurst and Tadley North, where Conservative incumbent, Graham Round, will be fighting to hold onto his seat, as will Kenneth Rhatigan (Con Kingsclere), Marilyn Tucker (Con Pamber and Silchester), and Rob Musson (Con Tadley south).
The Burghclere, HIghclere and St Marybourne seat of James Lewin is among those being contested, however Mr Lewin recently announced he will not be standing for re-election.
First elected five years ago, Mr Lewin, one of two Conservative borough councillors for the ward, along with Horace Mitchell, said he did not want to commit to another four years in the role.
Standing in his place will be Conservative candidate, John Izett, who has lived in the ward for 25 years.
Conservative, Stephen West, has resigned from his position as a Tadley town councillor, to focus on his role as a borough councillor for the Tadley central ward (Con).
He had been elected in 2003 to Tadley town council, serving Tadley north and resigned on March 6 this year.
“My best wishes go to my fellow councillors as they continue to work hard to make a difference in our town. My thanks go to everyone in Tadley North who have supported me and who it has been my pleasure to represent,” said Mr West.
Clerk to the town council, NIcki Barry, said the position would remain vacant until the May elections, when all seats on the 16-member town council would be up for re-election.
Parish council elections will also be held in: Ashford Hill; Hannington; Headley; KIngsclere; Mortimer West End; Pamber and Silchester.
Nomination papers, which have been available since March 3, can be submitted from tomorrow (Friday March 25) and until noon on Monday April 4 - the closing date.
A referendum on the Alternative Voting system will also be held on May 5.
The last date to register to vote is Tuesday April 14. To vote by post, application forms must be returned to the civic offices in Basingstoke by 5pm on Tuesday April 14, or to vote by proxy (someone goes to the polls on your behalf), by 5pm Tuesday April 21.
The count for the borough and parish council elections is to be held on the night of Thursday May 5, at Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke, along with verification of the referendum ballot papers. The count for the referendum will be held at the borough council offices on the afternoon of Friday May 6.
