Elections will be held on the same day, May 5th, for Cheshire East Council, contested parish councils and the national referendum on the alternative vote system.
Two candidates have been confirmed for the Alderley Ward in the Cheshire East Council Election. The Labour candidate is Dominic James Brown who will be up against the Conservative candidate Frank Keegan.
We will be able to confirm shortly whether there are more than nine nominated candidates for Alderley Edge Parish Council, if there are then an election will take place on May 5th.
There will be separate ballot papers for each council election and the referendum.
Electors have one vote on whether or not they want the alternative vote system. The question being put to voters on Thursday, May 5th, is: "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?"
This will be the first election using new electoral ward boundaries for wards in Cheshire East following a review by the Boundary Commission. This means there will be 82 councillors representing Cheshire East Council.
The number of wards has changed from 27 to 52 and Alderley ward will now have one councillor rather than three.
The Council is urging voters to make sure they are registered to vote – before it's too late.
Cheshire East Council Chief Executive Erika Wenzel, who will be the Returning Officer at the elections, said: "The deadline to register is Thursday, April 14, so if you're not already registered, don't delay. It's your opportunity to have a voice on the issues that affect all our lives – don't lose it."
To find out if you are registered to vote, or to request a postal vote, email the council's electoral services team, or call them on 0300 123 5016.
To request voter registration forms, visit the Council's 'Registering to Vote' webpage or print off the online forms.
For further information about the local elections and referendum vote can be found on the Cheshire East website.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
AV would be a tiny, tiny first step towards a fairer voting system. The question should really have been whether we should change to the Single Transferrable Vote system instead.
Under First Past The Post, in the 18 years I have been eligible to vote at General Elections, I have been represented by the candidate I voted for on only one occassion (1997).
The current system effectively disenfranchises me and leaves my views unrepresented, which is presumably why the Conservative Party are so desperate to preserve it.
I've had it up to here with career politicians at national level and local councillors.
Locally, the same people have been in office for decades and one must question what they have actually achieved in that time; 'actions speak louder than words'. The Parish Plan is a good example of local inaction.
Parking issues (which formed a major part of the Plan) appear to have been too much for local Councillors to handle and the fiasco on Monday evening (as reported on this site) was indicative of this.
What a lot of people might not appreciate is the nepotistic way in which local candidates are selected and therefore elected. If you are perceived as someone who will fit in, be compliant and not upset the status quo you will undoubtedly be taken on board, otherwise don’t waste your efforts; you can actually achieve more locally by staying away.
Unfortunately, apathy prevails yet again; local representatives are not receptive to local wants and needs and whilst people like Craig are allowed to be ‘slapped down’ nothing will change.
Two terms is sufficient to 'do your bit' and new blood from ALL parties should be encouraged; especially at local level.
Hmm I think i'd prefer to stick with the current system thanks all the same.
By limiting terms (and without such heavy political bias), people would be more driven, look at things from different angles and actually make things happen. Retaining enthusiasm is difficult and frankly, the Parish Council is pretty powerless anyway but in order to combat this we need people with not just youth and energy but also flair and imagination.
True community spirit is there, it just needs to be tapped into; why hasn’t Alderley got a young Liberal on board, given what is happening nationally.
BTW for the avoidance of doubt, my comments here relate to local representatives/ CE if the cap fits..
As for AV I only want 1 vote counted once and if they lose then so be it.
You obviously were not at last Monday nights meeting held by 2 parish councillors, regarding residents parking, otherwise you would think that 2 weeks in office was enough!
Firstly, I am at a loss to understand Craig's position. Since, as a former LibDem candidate, he almost certainly votes LibDem in elections in this area, why is he surprised that he does not vote for the successful candidate?
AV will not change the situation for Craig in this area. But, it will create enormous uncertainty in our politics - coalition government permanently. One example is the LibDem policy on tuition fees. Before the election they were committed to the abolition of these fees, now they are voting to increase them. I am not commenting on the policy, but rather use it as an example of the uncertainty AV will create.
Secondly, limiting terms in office is simply a silly idea. It is hard enough to get politicians to think long term as it is - making the terms of office limited to something in the region of 8 years will just make elected representatives more short-sighted.
By way of example, I was able to get the Alderley Edge bypass from a priority on the Country Council's list to commencement of construction in 2 terms. Had I ceased to be a councillor at the end of those two terms it would have meant the loss of all the knowledge that I had acquired over 8 years.
As it was, we were lucky, I remained a councillor although for a different ward and two of the CE councillors for Alderley had also been involved for a long time and knew the different issues affecting different parts of the bypass. But, that fortunate situation arose because of the change from the County and Borough into Cheshire East. Limiting councillors and MPs to a fixed period is just throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I am entitled to make these comments because in 4 weeks time, I will cease to be a councillor, I am standing down after 3 terms.
Susan; you mention the parking issues... the difficulty in solving them is that different people want different things e.g. in one street, some inhabitants want yellow lines and other inhabitants do not want yellow lines... how do we solve that? Paint one side of the street only? In another area, some want a residents' parking permit whilst others hate the idea... how do we solve that? Permits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only? Yes I know I'm being 'childish' but it illustrates the very real difficulty that you can't please all the people all the time.
You say that the parish council is 'pretty powerless'... go take a look at the park...all the new stuff there has come about because of parish council 'nagging' at C. East... we do get things done, it just takes time.; the alternative could be to offer a N. African ex-(or soon to be ex?) president a job?
Fenton; If there is a general feeling that a County Councillor should not be on the Parish Council, all people have to do is vote against him... but he keeps getting returned to office... people vote for him... democracy?
As for AV... damn silly idea... I don't want to be represented by someone who was lots of people's second or third choice... isn't that how the labour party got the wrong Milliband?
Craig; yes this Tory doesn't like the AV idea... I'll be honest in my own view... AV would probably enable the Labour and LibDems to carve up the elections for themselves... and then I'd be writing about never being able to vote for the winning candidate.
Everyone; come to parish council meetings (most are a bit boring to be honest) and talk to your parish councillors about what YOU want to happen... we will listen and if we can get done that which you want done then all to the good.
Sorry to have gone on a bit,
Duncan Herald
I know anyone can stand, but the reality is that unless you have a blue rosette you have no chance.
Duncan, do we not currently have a coalition between Conservatives & Liberals? So why would you assume that Labour & Liberals will necessarily "carve up" future elections themselves? What evidence do you have to support your claim? It hasn't happened in Australia (which uses AV), so why should it happen here?
In Germany, coalition government has been the norm for many years. Are either of you seriously suggesting that this has resulted in a weak Germany or weak German economy?
Marc, many people, over very many years, worked hard and pushed for the Bypass to happen; don’t want to steal your thunder but equally, could it not also be a question of timing? My view on two terms, especially for PCs still stands; with parties other than just the Tories being involved.
Duncan, you are a star; your work in the park, lately with the help of Kriss Coombes from Friends of the Park, is an example of a Parish Councillor 'making things happen'. To be fair, there are others like you and many know that.
On Graig and AV, I am not particularly politically engaged but I do think that the coalition should be given a chance and maybe electors should think of the ‘cup being half full’ rather than half empty. After increasing their Westminster seats to a worthy 57, albeit through enormous strategic efforts and in spite of a drop in the overall vote, the Lib Dems have done well. Their success at local government level is a testament to their true ability; they do deliver. AV does sound risky and policies may be more difficult to bring into being but wouldn’t some horrible mistakes be avoided along the way...
Dominic; if you're happy with him, good luck to you... why has the other one gone off in a sulk? and when is big-Gordy coming back to his day job?
Susan; thank you for the kind words... didja see the new bark layings laid yesterday?
How come the elder munchkin (sorry, Milliband) can trot off in a sulk but then come back into 'power', when he feels like it?... we are talking here of the Parliament, not the Milliband family business!
As for Big-Gordy's constituancy being quite happy (I like the 'quite'!) with him... maybe things are run differently in Scotland but if my M.P. strolled off for weeks and wasn't seen/heard in the House of Commons, I'd be a bit miffed with him, wouldn't you?
In advance, I fear I will have to congratulate you and yours on some victories in the forthcoming May elections; we always give government a 'kicking' in local elections don't we...but ne'er mind, once the Tories have put right the incredibly inept financial mess left by the teflon kid and Big-Gordy, the good times will return and hopefully the electorate will return the Tories to power again and again... it is the natural situation after all?
Division and inequality is the natural order of things for the Tory party, so my hopes are a long way from yours.
Division and inequality are the natural order of things for the Tory Party? I was at school John Reid, Helen Liddle and quite a few people who went on to become senior Labour organisers.
45 years ago I was actively helping my dad provide hot meals in George Square in Glasgow with the Simon Community. I tried at that time to get the help of a Labour MP who was a family friend, and he ran a mile. He ran on a ticket to help the disadvantaged, but when push came to shove he was not interested.
The fundamental issues are : Education : Housing : Employment : The Butler Education Act (Tory) was for many years the Bible on delivering quality Education to all, irrespective of background. It was based only on ability. I, and many of my friends from our Council Estate, benefitted from this Act and went on to further Education. It was Tony Crosland (Labour) with his Champagne Socialist ideas who ruined the system and spoiled the lives of many young people from poorer backgrounds.
On Housing, it was Mrs Thatcher who gave people the Right to Buy their houses at decent and attractive prices. It was John Prescott who forced the minimal payment up so that the tenants are virtually unable to afford to buy now. It is the Labour Party which frustrates ambition and tries to keep a core vote in check, afraid that aspiring people will leave the narrow mindedness of the Labour Party behind.
On Employment, it has generally been the Labour Party which spoils the economy and thus destroys jobs. We are having cuts now because the economy was left in ruins by the Labour Party. To hear Ed Balls, you would think he was nowhere near the mess we inherited. The Chancellor, George Osborne, had to embark on cuts : the alternative was a downgrading of our Credit Record which would have delivered much higher interest rates, and attacked both the jobs market and the housing market.
Can you engage brain next time before starting jingoistic slogans! As far as I am concerned, it is the Tory Party which has got all the big decisions right and enabled many people to come forward and deliver help in their local communities.
Mike, Your remarks are just what we don't need to have a fair and just society.
2. Vin you write of equality... may I remind you that for many of us, the full term is equality of opportunity... Like Frank (see above) I was born in an inner city, red-brick, working class area... thank goodness for the 11+ and grammar school! Without that, I doubt I'd have trotted off to University. If that's 'division and inequality', bring it on!
3. Education... I'm old enough to recall the onset of comprehensives... I recall a labour politician of the time who, when asked why his child wasn't going to a comp. alledgedly replied 'my dear chap, one doesn't experiment on one's own children' (alas. I can't recall who it was). It was an experiment that comprehensively failed.
4. How long must we wait before Balls & Millibank minor start going for each other's throats? Divisive? Damn right.
5. Susan (see way above) ... you say that candidates for the parish council are chosen 'the nepotistic way' ... what happens, in my experience, is that several people have their names put forward (by themselves or others), they are interviewed (sometimes at two different levels) and then the likeliest one/s are picked as candidates... someone has to volunteer and someone/s has to select; how else? You add that, in your opinion, the chosen one/s are selected for being compliant... you should tune into some of the (polite) differences of opinion within the parish council... I've been known to refer to my colleagues as 'boneheaded' and I believe I have been called worse! Compliant? No, more like bloody-minded.
The voting system does not suit you, because you perceive first past the post as a method of keeping you out of elected office.
The beauty of the first past the post system is that if the people get fed up with a party - 1979, 1997, 2010 - then they can sweep it from power.
Rather than worry about the electoral system, why don't you come up with policies? That seems to work for the main parties!
Duncan; equality of opportunity is a fine phrase but I would suggest doesn't fit many government policies eg going to university. There is also no doubt that societal position also remains a key determinant of opportunity. I would go further an ask of you want you mean by opportunity. The one of a better, fairer and more equal society that cares about others an our planet, or one that rewards those that want to take all from us.
Now, there will be debts built up : guess who is going to be disadvantaged? not the rich, but you will blame the rich for being able to afford to go and incur debts.
In actual fact, the system was broken by Blair by creating the demand without being willing to pay for the infrastructure. Does your Party just break things so that you can all complain later?
but going to Uni. does fit 'equality of opportunity'... just about everyone that wants to go can currently do so. Fees? If you want 50% to go then you'll have to do fees... go back to Uni. only for those that 'earn' a place and you could do away with fees. Money is finite.
Yes of course societal position is a determinant of opportunity; why aren't schools turning out people with equal chances? Well Labour had more than a decade and only managed to widen the gap between private schools and state schools; it would be nice to hear an apology for that abject failure?
The second part of your paragraph seems to kind of veer off into 'greenery'; I'd love to see a society that was fairer, better (whatever that means) and more caring... why has the Labour party not managed it? Is it because the ideal/utopian society you seek is an impossibility? Us old-fashioned Tories believe that a duty of society is to make it possible for anyone with the brains/work ethic/desire etc. to do as well as possible, regardless of class or position... it will never actually happen because of human nature but I believe that the Tory party does more to help those who can eventually go on to help themselves than any other party. Can you honestly say that the government of Teflon Tony, Big-Gordy, Balls-Boy and Milliband Minimus did much for the disadvantaged? Other than force them to be a part of the benefits culture?
Frank, you are a consummate politician; having your say (as are you fully entitled) on this wonderful site – just before the elections?? Was your appearance in the park with George Osborne, promoting the cafe idea equally contrived?
I do agree though that Tony Blair lacked the ability to contemplate the consequences of his actions; Iraq springs to mind and within a relatively short period of time to move from a 5% university intake to 50% was potty. I have had first hand contact with aspiring undergraduates and what was quickly apparent, on meeting them, was their diverse level of ability. It could be argued that the current system of funding will sort the wheat chaff thus bringing this particular aspiration full circle. No doubt, overseas students will continue to believe in Britain and its excellent education system and keep many red brick establishments in business; which is what universities are at the end of the day.
Vin, sorry they keep slapping you down; get more of your chums to join this wonderful site, I am sure all parties are welcome! Unfortunately, nothing changes and the various comments above slightly prove my case.
Duncan, I still say most of the local electorate don’t understand the system: get enough of your friends to pay their sub to ‘The Party’, attend the selection meeting and you are in! I HAVE attended Parish Council meetings: ‘tedious, ineffective, lacking imagination and time wasting’ spring to mind. New, young blood from different parties, would perhaps be not only be more democratic but also productive, worthwhile and frankly, interesting.
Frank/Duncan , I am a member of the Labour Party but that does not mean I am a sycophantic supporter of Blair , Iraq and Tuition Fees being 2 examples.
As for our MP , I have been waiting nearly a year for a response to comments as a local business owner and constituent.
To voting systems , maybe we should start with PR at a parish level , might be fairer than slates of 10 people from anyone party.
best to you all
Vin
I realy don't care about the voting system but one thing is sure, I hope labour never get the opportunity to govern again
I got paid today for the first time after the tax changes that came into effect from April.
Lets just say there is a significant reduction and the only people resposible for that is the last labour government.
Woe betide anyone who knocks on my door from Labour as they will get a full blast of my anger!!
It's not that we on the parish council select ourselves; there's actually a lack of candidates... 'cos a lot of the work of a parish council is worthy but hardly full of the wow factor! You suggest that 'new young blood from different parties' would be 'more democratic'... but the voters choose us... that's democracy... if the 'new young etc etc' either can't be bothered to stand or don't get votes, well there y' go... democracy innit?
You mention the cafe in the park idea... maybe it will still happen; be nice... why 'blame' Frank or George?... if the local voters want a cafe, then they can get out there and either raise monies themselves (good for them if they can) or show that a majority of the voters in Alderley Edge want public funds spending on a cafe in the park... alas most of the people I talk to, in the park, don't want 'their' money spending on providing a cafe in the park... but would be sort of content enough if someone could raise the money elsewhere... there y' go with more democracy!
Hi Vin... why do you guys go on about any/some change in the voting system?... your party doesn't win... live with it guys!... if you want to be represented on the parish council then damn well put up some candidates and let's have a good old fashioned knock down election... your guy can attack my record and I'll attack him/her etc etc.
I'm with you on tuition fees; an 'evil' thing... how can we get rid of them?... by the way, when is big-Gordy coming back to work in parliament... for which we still pay him?... or is he too busy campaigning for a huge salary job working to cock up European banks/money?... 'they' really do think we are idiots?
Hi Paul... you are clearly a man of sound good sense ! why do Ssme people still vote Labour? : turkeys/vote/xmas ? Tell us what you think the parish council ought to be doing... come on, be a focus group!
Nice wedding wasn't it?... so many people said that they wouldn't watch it... I took my dog for a walk in the park, in the middle of the wedding... no cars on the roads and a lack of people in the park... I'm hoping that in the same way, the voters will turn out and put a X in the Tory box !
I did stand for parish council in the late nineties , but didn't quite make it.
However , I have made significant contributions to the village by organising the Millennium celebrations and Live8ontheedge in 2005.
You are clearly a good chap... time to join the good-chaps-party?