All-Out Poll Would Make Council Much Less Accountable

Summary

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I Must take issue with Timothy Mullen's comments (Letters, November 18, 2008) with regards to changing the electoral arrangements of Stoke-on-Trent. While I agree that councillor Batkin's accusation that it is a plot by council officials and the main parties is little more than paranoid nonsense, I cannot agree with Mr Mullen's conclusion that a change to four-yearly all-out elections would be a positive step.

It is true that many councils across the country have adopted a system of all-out elections. However, a significant number also adopt the election by thirds system, including some of our most successful and populous local authorities, such as Birmingham and Manchester. Some authorities, such as Oxford, Cheltenham and Nuneaton, have elections by halves every two years.

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Extract

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All-Out Poll Would Make Council Much Less Accountable

When we voted to remove the elected mayor's office just a few week...

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