Options on filling vacant council seats to be set out

Newtown Town Council will sit for the first time since the local council elections earlier this month with just 10 councillors.

Six vacancies remain on the council after the ten existing councillors were left unopposed and nobody put themselves forward for election for the other seats.

On Monday, councillors will be asked to make a decision on what to do. Normally they would co-opt members on. This is when an individual can be nominated with out election and councillors vote on whether to accept them.

The Town Clerk is expected to also highlight the General Power of Competence. In basic terms, this means the council could continue operating without filling the six vacancies.

In a report to the full council, Mr Ed Humphrey's, the Town Clerk, sets out the options. However, it is understood councillors will be wary of opting for GPOC as this would mean existing councillors having to take on additional responsibilities for the existing committees and the town areas not covered by vacant wards.

The council could push for elections again for the seats, but this would be at a cost.

Mr Humphrey's said: "Much depends on whether the council wishes to be able declare itself eligible to use GPoC (i.e. an eligible council) and that in turn depends on its current and new workplan and the need to have future flexibility to be free of the restrictions of the limited list of powers it has, and the financial cap of the ‘power of last resort’.This is a political decision and not one on which the Town Clerk should recommend."

Councillors will make a decision at their meeting.