March 16, 2018 5.09 pm This story is over 72 months old

North East Lincolnshire Council wants to change elections cycle to save money

This would save the council a significant amount.
Cleethorpes Town Hall. Photo: Mapio

North East Lincolnshire Council wants to hold all out elections every four years instead of the current three-year system in order to save around £600,000.

Currently, a third of councillors are elected every year for three years on a four-year cycle.

The new proposals would see all 42 councillors elected in a single vote every four years.

North East Lincolnshire Council has elected its members in the thirds system since 1996, and the proposals to move to whole elections will be discussed by councillors at the next full council meeting on March 22.

Holding a local election currently costs the council around £240,000, or £120,000 if it is combined with a general election.

The council said that if whole elections were held from 2019, it would save around £600,000 over a nine-year period.

Council chief executive Rob Walsh said in a report: “A clear mandate from the electorate once every four years would enable the council to adopt a more strategic, long-term approach to policy and decision-making and focus less on yearly election campaigning.

“The results from whole council elections are simpler and more easily understood by the electorate. This may increase turnout at local elections.”

North East Lincolnshire Council is a Labour minority-run authority with 17 Labour councillors, 15 Conservative, five Liberal Democrat, three UK Indpendence Party and one independent.

Leader of the Conservative group Philip Jackson said: “There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages about using both cycles.

“There is a consultation process to go through, but on balance I personally would support a once every four year cycle.”