Swingometer

[Slacker]

How will people vote in the County Council election (and borough by elections where applicable) ?

How does that compare with other recent elections?

Interesting mix of parties this year with several Independents and UKIP in Chesterfield and Socialists Against The Cuts in several Bolsover electoral divisions. Also complication of boundary changes so county divisions are no longer 2 borough wards as they previously were in most cases.

[therealjr]

How will people vote in the County Council election (and borough by elections where applicable) ?

Same as always. By going to a polling station and putting a cross on a piece of paper next to my preferred candidate. 

ps Was this topic REALLY that interesting that you had to post it twice?

[Big Dave]

I probably won't. When I've tried to contact my borough councillors, neither of them replied and my county councilor might just as well not exist. I haven't heard from any of them since the last elections and have never seen their names in the DT as having achieved anything; they're all a waste of space as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately the remaining candidates are from parties I either despise, don't trust or have policies I don't agree with. The independents have failed to convince me I should vote for them so it's probably a 'None of the above' - very disappointing as it'll be the first time since I've been able to vote that I won't.

In any case, I think local councillors should only be allowed to serve for a maximum of three terms and should be required to provide evidence of the positive things they've done for their communities when being re-selected, which shouldn't be automatic.

[Pete]

I'll probably vote LibDem for the first time in my life. I had a good chat with one of their foot soldiers the other evening and they seemed happy to discuss anything with me. Unlike Labour's recent track record of not talking to me, not answering questions, etc. Plus their intention to completely ruin the whole Queens Park leisure/sport facilities, borrowing more money and, by the looks of it, ending the provision of a running track in Chesterfield.

[Big Dave]

I might have voted Lib Dem if they hadn't hopped into bed with the Tories and formed the coalition. In doing so they irreparably damaged their credibility and I no longer feel they can be trusted - a shame as I've met several of them locally, have delivered for them and have a lot of time for them as individuals. Unfortunately they're the ones who will suffer as a result of Clegg and Co's lust for power.

[therealjr]

With respect, the last two posts are indicative of what is wrong with local politics.

Pete, feel free to vote Lib dem if you wih but the outcome of the May 2nd elections won't have any consequence with regard to the QPSC/Annexe issue.
We are voting for the Derbyshire County Council elections*, the authority responsible for (amongst other things) Education, Highways and Social Services.

Big Dave: Again the people who are best served to run the county, those who understand local issues and local people probably have no resemblence whatsoever to the people who go to Westminster and run the country. People getting the two mixed up are why we end up with poor councils elected because of national issues.
I remember many years ago staffing a polling station for a by election to Staveley Town Council probably the lowest rung of the government ladder. One woman came in and announced that she had voted Labour because 'she wanted to get rid of that b100dy woman (3 guesses). As if a vote for a local town councillor was ever likely to have that effect.

(*unless you live in places like Spital and Stonegravels where there are borough council by elections)

[Pete]

>> Pete, feel free to vote Lib dem if you wih but the outcome of the May 2nd elections won't have any consequence with regard to the QPSC/Annexe issue.
We are voting for the Derbyshire County Council elections*, the authority responsible for (amongst other things) Education, Highways and Social Services.

Funnily enough I knew that.

[Big Dave]

With respect, the last two posts are indicative of what is wrong with local politics.

Pete, feel free to vote Lib dem if you wih but the outcome of the May 2nd elections won't have any consequence with regard to the QPSC/Annexe issue.
We are voting for the Derbyshire County Council elections*, the authority responsible for (amongst other things) Education, Highways and Social Services.

Big Dave: Again the people who are best served to run the county, those who understand local issues and local people probably have no resemblence whatsoever to the people who go to Westminster and run the country. People getting the two mixed up are why we end up with poor councils elected because of national issues.
I remember many years ago staffing a polling station for a by election to Staveley Town Council probably the lowest rung of the government ladder. One woman came in and announced that she had voted Labour because 'she wanted to get rid of that b100dy woman (3 guesses). As if a vote for a local town councillor was ever likely to have that effect.

(*unless you live in places like Spital and Stonegravels where there are borough council by elections)

(* which I do).

I'm not getting the two mixed up. I'm a former Lib Dem party member and town and district councillor though not in this part of the country. I've met most of the Lib Dems who currently hold office in the coalition, a coalition which I strongly object to. One of my first actions after the last general election was to send a text to a newly elected Lib Dem MP imploring them to "not to let Nick (Clegg) cosy up too close to Cameron and co." I didn't expect them to take notice of me, a grass roots party member, but look what's happened, the Lib Dem's rating is at an all time low, bumping along at around 15%, less than 'other'.

I resigned my membership of the Lib Dems in protest at the coalition (along with many, many others). When I receive garbage like the leaflet UKIP has posted through my letter box the only way to object is to not vote for their local candidate, the only way to show dissatisfaction with the Lib Dems leadership is to not vote for their candidate, likeable local chap though he may be.
If I do vote, it'll be 'Independent' as none of the parties deserve to govern Derbyshire or Chesterfield (I'm strongly suspicious about who does actually govern the town, the council or local big business.)

Most of the the election leaflets I've read (and I read them all) pushed through letter boxes in the last week or two have as much content about national politics than local issues so don't tell me I'm confused, like it or not, the two are inextricably linked.

[Slacker]

Same as always. By going to a polling station and putting a cross on a piece of paper next to my preferred candidate. 

ps Was this topic REALLY that interesting that you had to post it twice?

I made the moderators aware that it was playing up this morning and wouldn't post then suddenly went twice

[Slacker]

I probably won't. When I've tried to contact my borough councillors, neither of them replied and my county councilor might just as well not exist. I haven't heard from any of them since the last elections and have never seen their names in the DT as having achieved anything; they're all a waste of space as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately the remaining candidates are from parties I either despise, don't trust or have policies I don't agree with. The independents have failed to convince me I should vote for them so it's probably a 'None of the above' - very disappointing as it'll be the first time since I've been able to vote that I won't.

In any case, I think local councillors should only be allowed to serve for a maximum of three terms and should be required to provide evidence of the positive things they've done for their communities when being re-selected, which shouldn't be automatic.

What ward are you in Dave?

[Fly]

Got home from work, and there's 1 letter been posted through our door.
Hand written to 'Barry and Margaret Featherstone 27 SR'

It's from Joan Dixon, a Bolsover Labour Candidate for the Derbyshire County Council elections.
I'm impressed, someone's actually looked at the electoral register and took time to write our name on an envelope 
Not had anything from the other parties, this is Bolsover, were all Labour sheep apparently 

[Big Dave]

What ward are you in Dave?

St Helens. I'm aware that one councillor's husband died and she has been absent but why weren't e-mails forwarded to the other ward member? If they were, he ignored them and ones addressed to him directly.

[Slacker]

St Helens. I'm aware that one councillor's husband died and she has been absent but why weren't e-mails forwarded to the other ward member? If they were, he ignored them and ones addressed to him directly.

Unfortunately you've been underserved by councillors with Trev's illness followed by Ange's period of grieving before deciding she couldn't carry on. If it's a recent matter and you want me to chase it up send me the details in a message.

[Big Dave]

Unfortunately you've been underserved by councillors with Trev's illness followed by Ange's period of grieving before deciding she couldn't carry on. If it's a recent matter and you want me to chase it up send me the details in a message.

Thanks for the offer but it's history now.

[Fly]

Got home from work, and there's 1 letter been posted through our door.
Hand written to 'Barry and Margaret Featherstone 27 SR'

It's from Joan Dixon, a Bolsover Labour Candidate for the Derbyshire County Council elections.
I'm impressed, someone's actually looked at the electoral register and took time to write our name on an envelope 
Not had anything from the other parties, this is Bolsover, were all Labour sheep apparently 

Even more impressed now. Just had Joan delivering leaflets on our street. She's committed I'll give her that.
Still had nothing from anybody else.