Agenda item

Notice of Motion

Meeting of Annual Council, Council, Monday, 12th May, 2025 6.30 pm (Item 10.)

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr Parker will move the following motion:-

This Council notes:

1. Democratic Accountability in Hampshire: The current devolution process in Hampshire must prioritise democratic governance and accountability to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of Hampshire residents.

2. The high cost of standing: The mayoral elections in England require a £5,000 deposit and a £5,000 contribution for inclusion in a candidate booklet, which deters capable individuals from running for office. While it is essential to discourage frivolous candidacies – the cost should be lowered and alternative mechanisms considered, such as requiring candidates to gather a specified number of signatures from electors.

3. Voting System Change: Until 2023, mayoral elections in England were conducted under the Supplementary Vote system, which provided a fairer voting mechanism compared to the First Past the Post system now in use.

This Council believes that:

1. Lowering financial barriers would encourage greater participation and diversity among candidates, enhancing democracy.

2. Reintroducing a fairer voting system, usingSupplementary Vote (or a similarly fairer voting system) would ensure a more representative and democratic outcome.

This Council resolves to:

1. Call for the cost of standing for election to be lowered by reducing deposit requirements and introducing alternative mechanisms, such as requiring a specified number of signatures from electors, to discourage frivolous candidacies.

2. Support the reintroduction of a fairer voting system such as the Supplementary Vote, for mayoral elections in England.

3. Request formal support from:

The Leader of Hampshire County Council

The Minister for Communities, Housing, and Local Government (MCHLG)

The local MPs (“New Forest West” and “New Forest East” constituencies)

Invite the Leader of the Council to write to the above recipients, unless the Leader does not support the motion, then instead invite the Chief Executive Officer. The letter to state the council's position regarding recommendations one and two (above) and seeking their support for these reforms.

4. Promote these reforms during the devolution process in our interactions with Hampshire County Council, the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government and other relevant stakeholders.

Cllr Richards will second the motion.

Under the provisions of Standing Order 42, the above motion, after being proposed and seconded (without speeches), should stand referred to the body within whose terms of reference the subject matter of the motions comes, or the Cabinet or such Committees or Panels that the Council may determine.

The Chairman may allow the motion to be dealt with at this meeting if they consider it urgent, convenient or conducive to the despatch of business.

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that in accordance with Standing Order 42.2, that he would allow the motion to be dealt with at the meeting, as he considered it to be convenient to the despatch of business.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr Parker moved the following motion:-

This Council notes:

This Council believes that:

1. Lowering financial barriers would encourage greater participation and diversity among candidates, enhancing democracy.

2. Reintroducing a fairer voting system, using Supplementary Vote (or a similarly fairer voting system) would ensure a more representative and democratic outcome.

This Council resolves to:

2. Support the reintroduction of a fairer voting system such as the Supplementary Vote, for mayoral elections in England.

3. Request formal support from:

The Leader of Hampshire County Council

The Minister for Communities, Housing, and Local Government (MCHLG)

The local MPs (“New Forest West” and “New Forest East” constituencies)

Cllr Parker reported that the motion sought to strengthen the foundations of local democracy in the New Forest and across Hampshire. The motion proposed some practical common sense changes to ensure that as powers shifted and evolved, local democracy would remain firmly rooted, fair, accessible for all and transparent. He felt that local democracy should be shaped by residents and that their diverse voices be represented. A healthy democracy should offer the ability for a diverse range of capable individuals to stand for public office irrespective of their financial position. It was highlighted that the substantial upfront cost was a financial barrier towards standing in the mayoral elections which were significantly higher, potentially 20 times higher than the cost of stand as an MP.

The requirement for a deposit and the booklet fees further amplified the initial financial hurdle, which make it difficult for individuals to consider standing, without significant funding or party political backing. Cllr Parker urged members to endorse the motion as a positive and necessary step towards strengthening local democracy.

Cllr M Wade seconded the motion.

Cllr Cleary proposed an amendment to the motion, which removed the references to the voting system, specifically that:

1. Under This council notes: that point 3. be removed

2. Under This council believes that: that point 2. be removed

3. Under This council resolves to: that point 2. be removed

Cllr S Davies seconded the amendment.

A number of members thanked Cllr Parker for bringing the motion forward for consideration and debate.

Members speaking for the amendment supported the first past the post method voting system on the basis it was simpler, quicker, and more representative and democratic in its outcome, recognising that people voted for the candidate they wanted to be elected. The use of the word “fairer” was contested in relation to an alternative voting system to that of first past the post.

Members speaking against the amendment considered the first past the post system to be less fair and that alternative voting systems enabled every vote to count. It was suggested that alternative voting systems were more likely to lead to smaller parties or individuals being elected, recognising that the results of the most recent local elections reflected that politics was becoming more fragmented. It was highlighted that the current voting system, often meant that the successful candidate was elected with only a small proportion of the electorate voting for them. It was felt that the current voting system was broken and that public confidence was low, which was demonstrated by the poor turnout rates. A change to the system would help to restore trust in democracy. Furthermore, it was pointed out that alternative voting systems to first past the post were used successfully in other countries.

One member highlighted that proposing any change to the voting system at this stage was unlikely to change the direction of travel, given the intention to bring in the mayoral system in May the following year and with this in mind, it was felt that the amendment should be supported. It was acknowledged that members could however influence the costs associated with candidates standing in any mayoral election.

Put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

Members went onto debate the substantive motion. Members supported the call to lower the cost of standing for election which would encourage more candidates to stand.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes:

This Council believes that:

1. Lowering financial barriers would encourage greater participation and diversity among candidates, enhancing democracy.

This Council resolves to:

2. Request formal support from:

The Leader of Hampshire County Council

The Minister for Communities, Housing, and Local Government (MCHLG)

The local MPs (“New Forest West” and “New Forest East” constituencies)

3. Promote these reforms during the devolution process in our interactions with Hampshire County Council, the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government and other relevant stakeholders.