Just had a bit of an interesting discussion about community council
co-optees and whether they should be allowed to be co-optees whilst
standing (or intending to stand) for local election.

I don't see it as a problem - as until they're elected they're not
councillors and still ordinary members of the public.
They'd have the same political allegiance whether or not they were
standing, and you could argue that standing shows a deep committment
to the local area.

(Don't know if everyone has community councils - ours are non
constituted and co-optees are "elected" by councillors and have no
voting rights, or decision making rights, and are there to chair
meetings and ask the councillors to show how they spend a small
budget, and to help influence how services are provided)

If co-optees shouldn't be on the group whilst standing then the same
would be said of councillors - so avoiding holding meeting dates in
the run up to election would be helpful for all parties to not be able
to use the meetings as party political broadcasts.

What problems might there be? What happens in other areas?
What arguments for and against are there?

Cheers
Diane
PS: My next thread might be "how to win elections" :)
-- 
http://www.orderonlinepickupinstore.co.uk
Ah fetch it yourself if you can't wait for delivery
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
Or get it delivered for free