Co-option 09
Regular blog reader Noel Adams pointed out to me some time ago that some of our councillors were being briefed about the likelihood of a rash of co-options, probably next year. With the local government elections delayed until 2011, when the new super councils are due to take over, veteran councillors and MLAs who also hold council seats may be encouraged to step down if they want to benefit from any severance package (estimated maximum value £20,000).
That being the case, it's thought legislation may be passed to allow for a rash of co-options, rather than by-elections. Currently councillors can be co-opted, but only if no other councillor objects. Otherwise a by-election has to be fought.
At a meeting of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee yesterday the SDLP's Alex Attwood asked for some legal advice on how a system of mandatory co-options would sit alongside European rights conventions on the need for free and fair elections.
It's still early days as no legislation to allow for co-option has yet been published. But given the result in Dromore, one can imagine that some parties would be keener than others on a series of by-elections.
I'm 
Comments