Special Meeting, 1 November 2006

06/17
HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of the Special Meeting of Helmdon Parish Council held on Wednesday 1st November 2006
in the Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon at 7:30 p.m.
Present:
Councillors Bearman, Brookhouse, Burns, Earl, England, Moody, Smith, Spendlove
Parish Clerk: Liz Hart
One member of the public were present; two candidates were present: Alex Burnham and John Watson. John Coatsworth (candidate) sent apologies.
Action
1.
Apologies
None.
2
To co-opt a Councillor to fill the casual vacancy
Cllr Burns clarified the correct procedure for all present. Clerk confirmed that voting would be via a ballot as two requests had been received for that procedure.
Cllr Earl proposed, seconded by Cllr Spendlove that the following three nominations be accepted by the Council for inclusion in the voting process:
Alex Burnham
John Coatsworth
John Watson
All were in favour.
Alex Burnham and John Watson each gave a separate speech to Council while the other waited outside the room; Clerk read out the statement provided by John Coatsworth in his absence.
All candidates and the member of the public exited the room while Councillors discussed the voting.
All Councillors were issued with a ballot paper and once voting was complete the Clerk read out the results to all Councillors:
Alex Burnham – 3 votes
John Coatsworth – 0 votes
John Watson – 5 votes
The candidates and the member of the public re-entered the room and Cllr Burns informed everyone that John Watson would be the new Councillor, pending acceptance of office and the code of conduct at the next meeting.
Cllr Burns thanked all candidates for their interest and hoped that they would consider standing at the May 2007 elections.
Meeting closed at 8pm.