The clock's ticking at Langport
Which is unusual considering how buggered the thing's looking these days. But we don't mean that one up on the town hall, we are speaking figuratively and mean the fact that time is ticking towards next Thursday 9th April. That is when nominations from Langport have to be in from people hoping to stand as town councillors.
The actual election, if held, is on general election day - May 7th. But notice use of the word 'if'. A town council election can only be triggered if at least 12 nominees have been successfully put forward. They have to have all their paperwork in with the district council offices at Yeovil on the 9th. We understand that the figure has indeed hit 12 but there are concerns they may not have all submitted the forms yet, they also have to be 'proposed' and 'seconded'. It's all about red tape.
If the election triggering number isn't reached - or someone's botched up their paperwork - then we get 'town council rollover'.
Some tumbleweed heading down Bow Street
That means no democratic vote and Langport stays with the town councillors it has at the moment for another 4 years. (Hence the tumbleweed)
There's more - if you know anybody who wants to stand - it's not too late. The higher the nominee total rises over the necessary 12, the better. Indeed it could act as a 'safety net' in case some of the original 12 pull out or mess up their application forms or even miss the deadline. Ask at Langport Information Centre, The Town Council, or South Somerset District Council at Yeovil. But remember - it's all got to be on a desk at the district council offices in Yeovil by April 9th at 4pm. A few days later we hope to have news on whether or not 12 nominations were properly made and if we're getting a town council election. So Langporters, that dragged on a bit didn't it, but consider yourselves informed.
Pictured: Current Town Council Leader Julia Gadd telling her partner her plans for Langport if she gets in for another four years.
