Councillors reject move to STV

The move to a Single Transferable Vote system and a change to the way people vote in local Powys County Council elections, has been rejected.

During a public consultation held between 12th August and 30th September, 60.5% of the 1270 respondents supported adopting the STV system for future local county council elections, with 27.6% preferring the current first-past-the-post system.

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As part of the consultation, All About Newtown encouraged residents to participate. We also advocated for the use of STV as it would make elections in Powys fairer, especially when there has been no council election in Newtown East since 2012.

In order for the change to be approved by full council, at least a 2/3 majority (46 out of 68 votes) was required. Changes would also need to be made to the ward boundaries.

Following yesterday’s debate held on the 17th October 2024, 21 out of 68 councillors voted in favour of the change, falling short of the number needed to move to the alternative voting system.

Newtown county councillors David Selby and Adam Kennerly backed the plans, whilst Pete Lewington and Joy Jones voted against. Kelly Healy did not vote.

Conservative Pete Lewington believed the consultation was flawed as there was “no process” to sift out multiple entries.

Cllr Lewington said: “It brings up the question how much confidence and reliance can be placed on the accuracy of results that inform the debate.”

Engagement officer Lowri Shepstone explained that the duplicates had been “kept in the consultation” results as the responses could come from a: “variety of people using the same device.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies said that councillors were being asked to vote without knowing what the new multiple member ward set up would look like.

Cllr Davies said: “My ward could be part of a six councillor ward stretching from Llansilin all the way to Machynlleth.”

“Unless we know the physical nature of these proposals, I don’t see how we can vote for this today.”

Cllr Graham Breeze of the Powys Independents group took issue with the comments about councillors being elected unopposed.

Cllr Breeze said: “I’m one of those that was returned unopposed, and I happen to think it’s because I’m doing a very good job.”

Powys Independents group joint-leader Cllr Bev Baynham feared that independent councillors would struggle to be elected in expanded wards and would be forced to join a political party to get elected.

Cllr Baynham said: “STV is not right at this level.”

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader and Cabinet Member for an Open and Transparent Powys, said:

“Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation, your feedback was an important part of our decision-making process.

“Following our full council debate on the matter, we have decided that as a council we are unable to move to the new voting system for our local County Council elections. The vote clearly showed that the majority of Councillors do not think it would be the right decision to change at this time.”

Following the vote the Mat Mathias of the Election Reform Society Cymru said:

“Powys County Council had a historic opportunity to move to a fairer voting system that would have ensured every person’s vote in the county matters and the council chamber would better reflect the way people voted.

“Sadly, this vote will look to the public as though many councillors have put their own interests ahead those of voters and lost the chance to strengthen local democracy in Powys.”

Additional reporting by Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter.