County Council to consider request for election

Powys County Council will consider a request from Newtown Town Council over an election in South Ward

County Councillors will be considering a request from Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council to hold an election in South Ward, after the Town Council was left with 6 vacancies following the election in May.

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The report, which will be considered on Friday 22nd July 2022, outlines how the Town Council wishes to hold an election to secure status to become a 'competent council' for the purposes of the new Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Being a competent council will allow the Town Council to use the new general power of competentence, which will allow the Town Council to 'do anything an individual may do'.

To be a eligible council, you first must have 2/3rds of members elected unopposed or at the ballot paper along with a range of other criteria. Following the local elections in May, the Town Council was short this 2/3rds requirement due to a high number of vacancies.

It is likely that the County Council will approve the request an election will be held on 29th September 2022. The other remaining vacancies on the Town Council are due to be filled by co-option. The cost of the election will fall to the Town Council.